Interview with Daniela Szczygieł from Pro-Bionica

Interview

Bulgaria Franchise Network: How and where started making business?

Daniela Szczygieł: Pro-Bionica was founded in 2005, in Chorzów, a city located in southern Poland. The company was established in response to a growing demand for quality and inexpensive prostheses for Polish amputees.

BFN: Why decided to start franchising?

DS: Because we think that a franchise is an good opportunity for development of our company. It is also an excellent chance to invest in a stable branch of industry, i.e. medicine. Pro-Bionica has made a success in Poland as it is innovative and competitive, and the same is possible in Bulgaria, in cooperation with a local franchisee.

BFN: How many franchises do you have?

DS: At the moment, we have no franchises.

BFN: What makes you different from other competitors?

DS: First and foremost, the prices of our products. We do not use ready-made prosthetic elements. We manufacture them from materials available on domestic market. Pro-Bionica managed to reduce the production costs by 50 %. Our competitors are unable to do it so dramatically as they buy mass-produced elements. What is more, prostheses from Pro-Bionica are innovative and of high quality. We constantly work on new technologies and patents.

BFN: Why are you interested in franchising in Bulgaria?

DS: Bulgaria is a rapidly growing and developing country. One can notice a great potential in Bulgaria’s medical market. Besides, the number of amputees who need modern and affordable prostheses is significant. Our Bulgarian franchisee could answer their need quickly and easily.

BFN: Are you planning further expansion in other countries? If yes, which?

DS: Yes, we are planning a further expansion. We would like to have franchises in several Balkan countries and in the Middle East.

BFN: What are your expansion plans in Bulgaria?

DS: We are planning to establish a prostheses manufacturing plant and a prostheses fitting centre. We are open to new ideas and market demands.

BFN: What’s the profile of the franchisee/Master Franchisor are you looking for?

DS: It would be good if we found a franchisee already acquainted with the medical market. However it is not required as we are going to train the franchisee in our strategies.

BFN: In this economic crisis, what are the main advantages of a franchise like yours?

DS: Our franchise is a proven concept. Pro-Bionica Europe operates in one of the most stable branches of medicine, i.e. prosthetics. There will always be people who need prostheses. It is safe to invest in this franchise, as different government offices, insurance companies and NGOs subsidize prosthetics. In Poland, the investment paid for itself in 18 months and until now it has been producing a high profit margin.

I warmly invite all who are interested in investments in medicine to contact our office.

For more information about franchising in Bulgaria with Pro-Bionica, take a look here.

Interview with Daren Carter (Contours Express)

Interview with Daren Carter (Contours Express)

In the following interview we share a few words with a leading entrepreneur who has been involved with franchising for a lot of time.

We hope it will be useful for all of you thinking about  starting your own company in Bulgaria.

We found his story really inspiring.

Thanks to Julia Fogle and Daren Carter for their time.

Biography

In 1984 Daren Carter, just two years out of high school, opened his first co-ed fitness center in Nicholasville, a small community in central Kentucky. With a very limited budget, success did not come right away. Daren and his partner worked intently on increasing their membership while at the same time spending off hours in seminars and workshops focusing on exercise and nutritional guidance. After several years his dedication began to pay off.

In the early 90’s Daren opened another co-ed facility, this one nearly five times larger than the original club. Daren’s success soon became known across the country as he began serving as consultant for centers throughout the USA. Even with his clubs and personal career thriving, Daren recognized that there was still an unmet need in the fitness industry.

He soon set out to develop a unique fitness center where women could feel comfortable. Based on his knowledge of physiology and many years of experience, Daren knew that the importance of weight-bearing equipment did not just apply to men. He decided to use similar equipment, scaled down to fit a woman’s body, so the value of the workout would not be compromised. The first Contours Express opened in August of 1998 in Nicholasville, Kentucky. Women would now be afforded the opportunity to choose a workout that included both positive and negative resistance. Since that time women nationwide have chosen the increased benefits offered by the Contours Express workout.

Under Daren’s leadership, Contours Express has expanded to more than 370 domestic locations and greater than 220 clubs in twenty additional countries. Daren currently serves as CEO of Contours Express, International.

Interview

Bulgaria Franchise Network: How and where started making business?

Daren Carter: Contours Express began in 1998 in Nicholasville, Kentucky, USA

BFN: Why decided to start franchising?

DC: First location did very well and was following model set by our competitors like Curves.

BFN: How many franchises do you have?

DC: 514

BFN: What makes you different from other competitors?

DC: We are the only women’s fitness circuit training franchise that offers real weights not hydraulics

BFN: Why are you interested in franchising in Bulgaria?

DC: We are currently in 27 countries and would like to continue to expand worldwide.

BFN: Are you planning further expansion in other countries? If yes, which?

DC: Yes, we are currently in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Guam, India, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Pakistan, Panama, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, Turkey and the United Kingdom so we are looking to expand in all countries where we do not have any gyms.

BFN: What are your expansion plans in Bulgaria?

DC: We would like to see a Master franchisor purchase the rights to Contours Express and open at least 5 gyms in the first two years.

BFN: What’s the profile of the franchisee/Master Franchisor are you looking for?

DC: Someone that has an interest in helping women, a hard worker and a knowledgeable business sense.

BFN: In this economic crisis, what are the main advantages of a franchise like yours?

DC: It is low cost and highly supported

BFN: Thank you very much, would you like to add something more?

DC: Our proven methods of operation allow our fitness centers to open in spaces as small as 1200 square feet (120 square meters) and be successful in any size town or city with a population of 7,000 or larger. The systems are easy to learn and follow, and are designed to make each franchise profitable in the shortest amount of time possible. As your support system our goal is your complete success, below are a few of the items you will be provided as a Contours Express owner:

• Use & License of Contours Express Brand
• Franchise Support Staff & Activities
• Annual Convention
• Individual Location Website
• Toll-Free Phone & Email Support
• Monthly Newsletters
• Web-Based Marketing Library
• Preferred Vendors / Negotiated Pricing
• Internal Marketing Promotions
• On-Site Marketing Specialist
• Monthly Marketing Calendar
• Quarterly Marketing Packages
• Access to our online library where we house 100’s of marketing pieces and ideas.

For more information about franchising in Bulgaria with Contour Express, take a look here.

Pro-Bionica

The Franchisor talks

Until 2005, amputees in Poland had believed that obtaining a professional, well fitted prosthesis posed a problem because of high costs. For this reason, Probionica engineers, technicians and physicians spared no effort to design a prosthetic limb which would be light and inexpensive at the same time. The results of their work were beyond all expectations. The team created a modern prosthesis which enables the person who wears it to be active and enjoy his or her life to the full.

We wish to offer you the opportunity to introduce the “Walk Lightly, Feel Free” project in Bulgaria. Our specialists will provide you with our entire intellectual property, the know-how about the prostheses production methods, staff training and marketing strategies.
Relying on our previous experience of setting up a prosthesis production in Poland, we would be happy to introduce similar solutions abroad. Our aim is to establish a facility of the same kind as in Poland, in cooperation with our Bulgarian partner.
The project is an excellent opportunity for investment in medicine and has virtually no disadvantages. It is highly beneficial both for you as the investor and for the people who, thanks to your activity, will remain their dignity and happiness. It should be especially emphasized that investment in this branch of medicine, i.e. prosthetics, does not create any risk of failure due to the current economic crisis, as it is one of the few areas of the global market which are likely to remain safe for investors.
We intend to work with local investors and train local staff, as it is clear that expatriate personnel increases the production costs. We shall organize professional training for technicians and familiarize them with the procedures of fitting and making lower-limb prostheses. What is more, we will assist in the process of establishing the plant, and devise effective marketing strategies.
If you decide to cooperate with Pro-Bionica, you will have a unique chance to invest in a new business opportunity or expand your already existing medical activity. In any of these cases, you are sure to achieve a gradual, certain economic success.

You can get more information in the company brochure, just click here.

Pro-Bionica
Contact Data
Addres:	Pl. Powstancow Sl. 1, 41-500 Chorzow, Poland
Web:	www.probionica.pl
Email:	probionica.europe@wp.pl
Phone:	(+48)322411695
Fax:	(+48)322411695
Contact Person:	Ms. Daniela Szczygiel
Bulgaria
Franchises in Bulgaria:	0
Owned in Bulgaria:	0
Total in Bulgaria:	0
Costs
Total investment:	120,000 €
Franchise Fee:	30,000 €
Ongoing royalty fee:	5% (monthly)
Marketing fee:	No
Term of agreement:	5years
Others:	90,000 Euro, including machinery, trainings and marketing services
PoS Requirements
Surface:	Min. 150 square meters
Special requirements:	The facility needs to be adapted for disabled people
Min. Population:	No
International
Country of origin:	Poland
First establishment (year):	1995
First franchise:	1998
Establishments (total):	3
Franchises (total):	1