A DESIGN and print company in Huddersfield has launched its first franchise.
The Design Mechanics, based at Marsden, has created its first franchise business providing design and print from a genuine price list.
The new business is being operated by franchisee David Hall, who covers Huddersfield and Halifax.
Stewart Leahy, managing director of The Design Mechanics, said it had taken five years of preparation to create a franchise model for the business.
“Our aim was to establish the first-ever franchise business providing quality design and print from a genuine price list,” he said. “The main challenge has been to create systems and procedures that allow a ‘non-designer’ to work with clients and take amazing, high quality design briefs and then manage the project through to completion.”
All creative design and print production will remain a centralised operation, allowing The Design Mechanics to maintain its high standards of design and quality control.
For this reason, Stewart and his business partner, creative director Dave Pannell, advertised for a franchisee with a business or marketing background.
Said Mr Leahy: “The franchise element of our business focuses on advising businesses on their marketing materials. It’s essential that the franchisee can empathise with the businesses we work with and quickly understand what they need to achieve.
“David Hall is exactly the kind of person we were looking for. He brings a considerable amount of client-facing experience and marketing knowledge to the role and is a highly professional character.
“It’s his ability to get on with anyone and understand any type of business instantly that made his application stand out from other potential franchisees.”
Mr Hall, who will take on The Design Mechanics’ sales office in Marsden, said: “Although I was looking for a new role that didn’t involve as much travel as my previous job, I hadn’t considered taking on a franchise until I saw The Design Mechanics’ proposal at the Kirklees Business Conference.
“Having been in sales and marketing practically all my working life, I was intrigued to see how Stewart and Dave had turned a design agency into a franchise concept. As soon as I saw what they were doing and how the process works, I was sold on the idea.”
