Before we begin…………….
This interview is part of the Jim’s Podcast series that I do and was one of my first in this style.
I was inspired by Nathan Chan’s interview with Jim’s Group CEO, Jim Penman and decided to interview our divisional franchisors in the same format.
This interview was a while ago as you can see I am around 15 kg lighter in the video, however, with the advancement of AI software, I am in the process of repurposing all these interviews into pieces of written and short-form content.
Since 2019, I have done a lot of interviews with Jim’s Group and there is a lot of gold in our archive.
The below was created using Koala.sh and it has transcribed the video (original content) and created the below.
I have done some minor tweaks, however, not overly much!
If you want to see how I did this, sign up for my newsletter.
Who is Brett Blair?
Brett Blair, the owner of the Jim’s Pool Care Division, he is the guest in this episode of Jim’s Advice, a series featuring successful entrepreneurs and business owners within the Jim’s family and network.
The series aims to provide generic business content and advice for any business owner or entrepreneur looking to improve their business.
Brett has over 100 franchisees under the pool care banner and is known for his great business advice and passion for customer service.
He is a relatable figure with a knockabout personality who has a lot of applicable business advice.
Brett’s background is in project management, but he transitioned to the pool care business because it was a labour and retail business that allowed him to sell his time and retail items.
He believes that being clear on one’s passion is crucial when starting a business and that it is essential to make every interaction count to maximize first-time customer interaction.
Brett motivates his team by engaging in ongoing team meetings, professional development, and training, as well as an annual conference.
Key Takeaways
- Passion is crucial when starting a business.
- Maximizing first-time customer interaction is essential for building customer relationships.
- Ongoing team meetings, professional development, and training are crucial for continual motivation and professional development.
Background of Brett Blair
Brett Blair is the owner of the Jim’s Pool Care Division, which has over 100 franchisees under the pool care banner. He was chosen to be part of the Jim’s Advice series due to his success as an entrepreneur and business owner.
Brett has a background in project management and had been looking to start his own business for some time. After researching various options, he found that the Jim’s Pool Care Division was an ideal fit due to its combination of labor and retail business.
Brett’s passion for customer service was ignited when he met Jim, the founder of Jim’s Pool Care.
He was impressed with Jim’s dedication to providing excellent customer service and decided that he wanted to be involved with the company. Brett started a mobile franchise and a master franchise in Queensland, and the business has grown significantly since then.
Brett’s decision to enter the pool care industry was based on his desire to sell time and retail items.
He saw the potential for growth in the industry and was drawn to the ongoing service model. He believes that building great relationships with customers is key to the success of the business.
Transition from Project Management to Pool Care Business
Brett started his business journey in project management but was looking for a change.
He wanted to get into business for himself and studied business management and marketing.
After researching different options, he kept coming back to Jim’s Pool Care.
Brett was drawn to the pool care industry because it was not just a labor business, but also included a retail component. He saw the opportunity to sell time and retail items, such as chemicals, pool equipment, pumps, filters, and chlorinators, which would allow him to work smarter, not harder.
When asked about his decision to choose pool care services over his background in project management, Brett emphasized the importance of being clear on one’s passion and focus. He believed that if he wasn’t passionate about the business, he would have a greater chance of failing.
In the pool industry, the goal is to build great relationships with customers on the first visit to secure monthly ongoing service. Brett coaches his franchisees to make every interaction count, even if it’s the last job of the day.
Brett’s transition from project management to pool care business highlights the importance of finding a business that aligns with one’s passion and goals.
Importance of Passion in Business
Passion is a crucial factor in the success of any business. It is the driving force that motivates entrepreneurs and business owners to work hard and strive for success. Passion for one’s business can be seen in the dedication and commitment to providing excellent customer service, building strong relationships with clients, and continuously improving the business.
Brett emphasises the importance of passion in business. He believes that being passionate about one’s business is essential to its success. Blair’s passion for customer service has been a driving force behind the success of his business.
He believes that passion is contagious and that it can be seen in the interactions between business owners and their clients.
Blair advises entrepreneurs to be clear about their passion and to focus on it. He believes that if one is not passionate about their business, there is a higher chance of failure. He also stresses the importance of making every interaction count, as it can lead to long-term relationships with clients and increased revenue for the business.
In the Jim’s Pool Care Division, Blair motivates his team by holding regular team meetings and providing ongoing professional development and training. He believes that investing in his team’s growth and development is crucial to the success of his business.
Building Customer Relationships
Brett also touches on the importance of building strong customer relationships. He believes that the first interaction with a customer is crucial in establishing a long-term relationship. Blair advises franchisees to make every interaction count, treating each customer as if it were their first job of the day.
To ensure that franchisees are motivated to provide excellent customer service, the Jim’s Pool Care Division holds regular team meetings and professional development sessions.
They engage with preferred suppliers to provide ongoing training and equipment to franchisees.
Additionally, the division hosts an annual conference where franchisees from all over Australia can come together to learn and network.
Blair emphasizes the importance of having a passion for the business. He believes that being passionate about the business will translate into better customer interactions, leading to more long-term customers. He advises entrepreneurs to be clear about their passion and focus when starting a business.
The Pool Care Division’s business model, which includes both labor and retail components, allows franchisees to sell their time and retail items, such as chemicals, pool equipment, pumps, filters, and chlorinators. This business model has proven to be lucrative, with some customers staying on for up to 10 years.
The Jim’s Pool Care Division emphasies the importance of making every interaction count and providing ongoing training and professional development to franchisees. Passion for the business is also crucial in creating long-term customer relationships.
Maximizing First Time Customer Interaction
According to Brett, the pool industry’s goal is to provide one-off and regular service to customers. Therefore, franchisees should build great relationships on their first visit to the customer’s home to establish a long-term relationship with the customer.
The franchisees should do their best to provide excellent customer service and build rapport with the customer during the first visit to maximize the chances of the customer signing up for the monthly ongoing service.
Brett advises that franchisees should be passionate about their business and enjoy what they do. If a franchisee is not passionate about their business, there is a greater chance of failure in the first year. Therefore, it is essential to be clear about one’s passion and focus before starting a business.
Maintaining Professionalism and Quality of Service
Brett believes that customer service is the key to success and that every interaction with a customer should be treated as an opportunity to build a long-term relationship.
Blair advises business owners to be clear about their passion and focus before starting a business.
He believes that being passionate about the business is crucial to its success. He also encourages business owners to make every interaction count and to always show up with a positive attitude.
To maintain professionalism and quality of service, Blair’s team engages in regular team meetings and professional development. They also have a preferred list of suppliers who provide ongoing training and equipment. Additionally, they hold an annual conference to fly everyone in and discuss the latest developments in the industry.
Continual Motivation and Professional Development
He engages heavily with the franchise team around Australia to have regular team meetings and has a preferred list of six suppliers in the Jim’s Pool Care Group who provide ongoing professional development, training, and equipment.
Blair also believes in the value of making every interaction count with customers. He coaches his franchisees to build great relationships on their first visit to maximize the chance of securing regular monthly service. He stresses the importance of being passionate about the business and having a clear focus on what drives the individual.
Blair encourages his franchisees to be motivated and focused on the business by providing them with the opportunity to sell their time and retail items. He believes this approach enables them to work smarter and not harder, freeing up time to enjoy life outside of work.
Overall, Blair’s approach to continual motivation and professional development is centered around building strong relationships with customers and providing franchisees with the tools and resources they need to succeed.
Annual Conference and Training
During the annual conference, Jim’s Pool Care Division engages heavily with its franchisee team around Australia to provide ongoing professional development and training. The conference is an opportunity for the team to meet and network with each other. The conference also includes training sessions and workshops on various topics such as customer service, marketing, and sales.
In addition to the annual conference, Jim’s Pool Care Division has a preferred list of six suppliers who provide ongoing professional development, training, and equipment. The suppliers include pool equipment manufacturers and others.
The franchisees are encouraged to attend regular team meetings and engage in ongoing professional development to continually improve their skills and knowledge.
The company places a strong emphasis on making every interaction count and maximizing the first-time customer interaction.
The franchisees are coached to build great relationships with customers during their first visit to encourage ongoing monthly service. The company also motivates its franchisees by emphasizing the potential for long-term customer relationships and the financial benefits that come with them.
Overall, Jim’s Pool Care Division prioritizes ongoing training and professional development to ensure that its franchisees are equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to provide excellent customer service and grow their businesses.
If you’re looking for a franchise business with great support and leadership, check out https://www.jimspoolcare.com.au/
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