Chris Rocker, founder of Just Shutters, explains why his company has become a massive hit with potential franchisees.
It’s been 14 years since Just Shutters was formed by Bournemouth’s Chris Rocker who had previously built up a quarter of a century of experience as both a salesman and operations expert.
Chris was seeking a new challenge and he had noticed there was suddenly a huge demand for shutters.
He’d also observed that the general public had developed a particular love for what the industry call ‘plantation shutters’ and therefore decided to take the plunge and set up his own company.
That was 2006 and, as we enter the third decade of the new century, Just Shutters has become the fastest-growing independent retail shutter company in the UK.
They have installed over £27m worth of shutters and have franchises in more than 175 towns and cities.
Chris spent six years in the Royal Air Force, before forging a career in sales. He later went on to reinvent operational systems for several national companies, and he explains why Just Shutters just keeps on growing.
He says: “Just Shutters is a business with high margins, steady cash flow and low staffing requirements in a growing market.
“And we have the banks onside too. The banks view investing in a franchise as a very strong proposition and are generally supportive, with funding up to 70% available. Buying into an established and much-loved brand is far less risky than starting a business from scratch.
“We offer our franchisees the best possible operational systems, marketing, training and business support. This helps them to grow their businesses quickly and competitively, while ensuring outstanding customer satisfaction.”
Chris and his team have worked tirelessly to grow the business, and he says: “We are the best-loved shutter company in the south of England.
“To be successful, all businesses must have the ability to adapt, and think quickly on their feet. I believe in development, forward-thinking, and an entrepreneurial spirit, while never losing that feeling that we, the company, are one big family.
“We have a network of passionate business owners who work together to push the business forward. We tackled the Covid-19 crisis in a professional and ‘can-do’ manner. Although the business couldn’t actively trade, we introduced a Home Measuring Kit so that sales kept coming in.
“During this difficult period, many of our franchisees chose to support their local communities by providing a shop-and-drop service to the elderly or vulnerable, and I’m exceptionally proud of all their efforts.”
Chris has enjoyed a varied career and was sales director of the Hungerford branch of the high-street icon John Lewis where he gained invaluable experience in the dog-eat-dog world of marketing.
So what does it take to become a franchisee of Just Shutters? An investment of £27k secures a five-year renewable licence, an exclusive dedicated sales area, as well as access to the operational systems, product samples, branded clothing, vehicle branding, stationery/marketing materials and point of sale products.
In addition, funds are required to secure a suitable vehicle, as well as enough backing to cover general living and household expenses for a minimum of six to 12 months – or until the new business begins to flourish.
In return, Just Shutters provides in-house marketing expertise to help you launch your business. This package, worth £9k, includes local advertising, dedicated web pages and Pay Per Click (PPC) advertising.
And Chris adds: “Our Just Shutters website brings in a minimum of 150-300 leads per month, per franchise area, which easily exceeds the industry standard. Our finance team is on hand to help partners, if required, on best practices for running a profitable business.
“The marketing department can advise on details such as advertising strategy, building strong relationships and lead creation. We want all our businesses to hit the ground running. The aim for all our partners is to grow with the company, and benefit from a superior quality lifestyle, while enjoying great earning potential.”
With regards to the company’s ambitions for the future, Chris says: “Going forward we will continue to explore product diversification, such as voice-activated shutter control. The company is ideally placed to consolidate what is already a strong position in the market.”
