Ibby Hussain - CHIPS Stockton

Why I chose franchising?

One of the main reasons was support. As a sole trader I would have struggled to buy stock and wouldn't have received support from publishers with promotions and Point of Sale, so to be a part of a group has paid huge dividends.

What I did before taking up franchising?

I actually worked for the CHIPS for about 17 yrs as sales assistant then climbed to manager then operations manager. I opened a number of franchises for CHIPS and soon realised that I could open my own.

How I raised the finance:

My father helped me out and I also have a bank loan.

The training and support I received from CHIPS:

The training was not necessary as I was a CHIPS trainer myself but the support was a great help.

The challenges I have faced:

Being my own boss is a dream come true. I did find the accounts a nightmare at the start but I am now getting the hang of it. As with everything else it's becoming second nature.

My advice to someone thinking of buying their first franchise:

Be prepared to put a lot of hours and hard work in. It's not just about running a store day-to-day but running it efficiently and effectively.

My plans for the future:

If things go smoothly I hope to run this store for three to four years and then look into expanding with a second. It could happen even earlier if things work out well.