French brand Raison Home has cemented its commitment to the UK with a new recruitment drive for its ‘At Home’ kitchen designer franchise concept.
Launched in the UK in 2017, unlike other KBB franchise models, the Raison Home concept does not require franchisees to set up a showroom. Instead, designers work from brochures and samples to plan and create designs from the client’s home – involving them in the entire process.
The company has a five-year plan for growth in the UK which will be rolled out by Raison Home UK’s new managing director David Fox (pictured) – an industry veteran who previously owned his own retail showrooms and worked with Magnet and Hammonds Bedrooms.
Speaking exclusively to kbbreview about his aims for the brand in the UK, Fox said: “We currently have two sales designers – both of whom have KBB design experience – employed by the company in the UK, to prove that the concept works.
“I’m aiming to bring on board four franchisees this year; eight in 2021 and 12 in 2022. Because of lockdown, the recruitment process only started up again properly last month, but we’ve been talking seriously to a few people already and the concept has been very well received so far.”
Although Raison home franchisees do not need to have prior KBB experience, Fox is looking to turn the negative of unemployment into a positive by specifically targeting KBB experts who have recently been made redundant from their roles due to the coronavirus.
Interested parties need to find a £35k initial set up fee – which buys them the rights to use the Raison Home branding and all the tools required to set up their business, including a place on its training programme and access to the in-house CRM system. In addition – once up and running – the franchisees pay a five percent management fee and a five percent marketing support fee.
“There is huge potential for this concept in the UK because nobody currently sells like it here,” Fox said. “The basis of the concept is that the kitchen, bathroom or bedroom is designed with the customer in their own home. It’s that simple. But, nobody in the UK seems to be able to get their head around the fact that you can sell kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms without a showroom.”
“In the UK, we’re competing with independent showrooms in the £15k kitchen market and, because we offer very realistic pricing and competitive margins, the opportunity in the UK is really strong.”