Andy Telford

What did you do before deciding to become a World Options franchisee?

Before I became a World Options franchisee, I worked in the shipping industry for 13 years through Royal Mail and Parcelforce, DHL, and other companies as a sales rep.

I decided that I wanted to do that for myself.

Why did you decide to purchase a World Options franchise?

It was the lifestyle. My wife and I love vacations. And when you can only have 20, 24, or 26 days of PTO per year, it does tie you down. We love traveling and going to places, and now we can do so. As the boss, I can sign off and leave for three or four weeks.

When I started my franchise, it was the time when we wanted to start a family. I never wanted to be the dad working 9 to 5 away, missing all the big and small moments. I love doing the school run every day.

How did your previous experience in the shipping industry help you in your franchise?

It gave me a lot of knowledge, especially working for DHL. . I started in customer service and then worked my way through telemarketing. I then worked underneath the account managers in the field, and then went and worked as an account manager myself. So being in that environment, I learned a lot about the different services and offerings that are out there.

How did you make your franchise a success?

The first six months were the key. For the first six months, every day without fail, my business partner and I met up at 8:30 in the morning. We were on the road, pounding the streets, finding doors until 5:00, until the offices, factories, and warehouses were closed. And we did that solid work for six months to build our customer base.

What advice would you give people who are thinking about purchasing a World Options Franchise?

I’d say think about it first. Putting the hard work in at the beginning is essential. You have to get that ground in. And once you start getting customers coming through, you will see the rewards. If you can build a solid base in the first six months, you’re on a great path.