Interview With Franchisee Catherine Turner
WO: Tell us about yourself?
CT: My background is very different to anything I do as a World Options Franchisee. My degree was in Scientific Illustration – basically, very detailed pencil & watercolour of anything ranging from dead bugs to architecture. I started my career as a Freelance Illustrator, working with various publishers and architects. It was hard work. Long hours for unrealistic deadlines and little money for the time spent. However, it did work well for working from home and working in-between children. Adam & I have two children, Reuben, 21 and Jonah, 19, who are used to seeing us working hard either within World Options or on the two self build homes we did in 2008 and again in 2018. Not quite Grand Designs!
WO: How did you learn about the franchise opportunities that World Options offers?
CT: When we came across World Options through a friend, after discussing a similar opportunity, it all fell into place.
WO: How did you find the process of purchasing a World Options franchise to be like?
CT: As we were the first franchise, they were still getting everything in place, but with the support of the Directors and many a question to the Customer Support staff I got on the phone and several of those first few customers back in 2012 are still shipping with us now.
WO: How did you find the process of purchasing a World Options franchise to be like?
CT: We had looked at various franchises over the years as we knew we wanted to build something for ourselves and be our own boss. We wanted something that brought us residual income with the ability to work from home and work around school runs and school holidays. We felt World Options offered this. It did take some time to get things sorted.
WO: What can we expect to see from your franchise in the coming months?
CT: We were hit quite hard as a result of Covid and Brexit. Big shippers previously, simply don’t exist anymore, have stopped shipping internationally or have moved on for one reason or another. We have moved back into an office, taken on 4 recruits through the Governments Kickstart scheme, and have invested heavily in two new sales people with the intention of growing our business back to where we want it to be!
WO: Do you have any advice for someone looking to buy a World Options Franchise?
CT: If you’re looking to buy a World Options Franchise, do your due diligence, speak to those who are already doing it. I didn’t have anyone to speak to! Be patient, as it does take time, but if you are consistent, your business will grow. It’s been a great business for us and our family.
WO: What is your favourite holiday?
CT: We have been blessed to visit some amazing places as a family. Just after purchasing the franchise we went on a 3 week trip to California with our two boys who were then 12 & 10. More recently, we went on a Caribbean Cruise over Christmas 2019, again, visiting some beautiful places. Jamaica being our favourite and most fun!
WO: Hobbies?
CT: We love to travel around the UK and Europe in our motorhome, exploring new and exciting places. We went to France for the first time in it last October and just kept driving south until we found the sun!
WO: Who is the most influential person in your life, and why?
CT: My husband and two boys are the biggest influence in my life. When we first bought the franchise things were hard. Life was a struggle for various reasons but they were the reason I kept picking up the phone and making those calls to be able to spend the quality time we did and still do together, even now that they are grown up!
