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Original poster

Franchise

33 replies

bebsy · 20/03/2007 21:38

Hello. Has anyone heard of Raring2Go? If you have then what do you think of the franchise opportunity??

OP posts:
Original poster
bebsy · 21/03/2007 10:46

Should I take the lack of replies as a big no? Maybe I'm just blinded by the idea that it seems to give me an alternative to going back to work full time which is what I desperatly want!

OP posts:
anniebear · 21/03/2007 11:44

what is it?

Original poster
bebsy · 21/03/2007 12:03

here's a link to the info site

\link{http://www.getraring2go.co.uk\info

and here's a link to the raring2go website

\link{http://www.raring2go.co.uk\raring2go

erm...hope i've done the links correctly!

OP posts:
zippitippitoes · 21/03/2007 12:05

what is it?

sending viagra spam emails?

or an escort service?

Original poster
bebsy · 21/03/2007 12:05

oops they didn't work, think i forgot to add the last }

here they are again - hopefully they'll work this time!

here's a link to the info site

info

and here's a link to the raring2go website

raring2go

OP posts:
PandaG · 21/03/2007 12:25

where do you live? Do you already have anything like the magazine in the area? I ask because we have just rec'd issue 2 of Raring2go in our area, through the school book bag as stated in te material. I don't find it particularly helpful tbh, as there are already 2 free magazines for our area, which both seem to have more copy and less advertising. Much worse publishing granted,but there are only 15 pages of editorial and listings out of a 32 page magazine - so they did not manage to increase the size of the magazine in gthe second issue.

REgarding the website, how is that going to be promoted? Will advertisers see that as a draw,

Don't want to dampen your enthusiasm, do you have lots of places nearby that may want to advertise? Our one states it has a
readership of 30,000 families.

juicychops · 21/03/2007 12:41

It does look good, but its a lot of money!!

Original poster
bebsy · 21/03/2007 13:13

Which area are you in PandaG? The area I'm looking at doesn't seem to already have anything like this. I've spoken to some nurserys and they don't have/are aware of anything like this in the area. It's quite a large area so I think (hope) there would be enough advertisers. I thought it would be really helpful as I struggle at the moment to find things to do with my dd and can't bear searching the internet for things to do as it's too time consuming so a mag and website like this would save me loads of time and hassle.

The website would be advertised in the magazine and would be promoted by the company aswell. I think it makes sense to be on the web these days so hope it would be a draw for advertisers, especially those that don't have a web presence and if they do already have a website then they can have links to their website - everyones a winner in my eyes!! This is where I worry that I'm being blinded though as it ticks so many boxes for me??

juicychops, it is a lot of money but I'm hoping the investment would be worthwhile so I don't have to go back full time and then look back with the regret of not having been home with dd...

any more thoughts would be very welcome.

OP posts:
PandaG · 21/03/2007 13:22

I'm in Sheffield, so plenty of things to do in the surrounding area. do you have to pay up front for the franchise? I missed that bit when I scanned the site. Can you afford the upfront fees? What profit would you clear after 1 year if y ou do 4 32 pg booklets - is that as much as you need to keep solvent? I'd be asking those types of questions. But, if there is nothing similar nearby, it could be a good idea for all your reasons

Original poster
bebsy · 21/03/2007 13:58

hmmmm sheffields alot bigger than the area I'm thinking about so I would have thought it would have been possible to do a larger mag.

yeah the fee has to be paid up front but theres a guarantee on the info site saying that they will pay the difference between your first years income and the fee if you don't earn the fee back in the first year which sounds good.

4 32 page mags would bring in a good profit - nothing like what I'd earn if i went back to work full time, but enough to see us through the year...I guess that's the trade off with being able to stay at home and not have that regret. I'd also have to get in to debt to be able to afford it which is what makes it all so scary. It's all good on paper but what if it doesn't work? gosh, how do people make these decisions??!!

OP posts:
gemmum · 21/03/2007 14:00

i've never tried a franchise but this one looks good, and i've spoken to the woman who setup the business and she's lovely. aboutmyarea

Original poster
bebsy · 21/03/2007 14:38

Thanks for that gemmum. The price is certainly alot more attractive, but it doesn't grab me like raring2go does. I think that if I'm going to change my career and produce a magazine, then I need to be producing something I really believe in - Raring2Go solves a problem I have so I can believe it would solve a problem for other mums too - that's my reasoning anyway! There are also so many community websites out there at the moment that I think it would just be adding another to the pool. I guess it's still good to see what else is out there though.

OP posts:
Original poster
bebsy · 21/03/2007 14:41

I should say 'solve a problem for other parents' before I get shot!

OP posts:
gemmum · 21/03/2007 14:50

i agree its good to know all the options.

have you seen
communitytimes
and
mymag

I know (well on another message board) someone who's on there third issue of comminity times if you want me to try and get hold of her.

best of luck anyway, its exciting when you find something you want to go for isn't it?

Gemma

Original poster
bebsy · 21/03/2007 16:16

Thanks again gemmum - I saw these but again they didn't grab me for the same reasons as aboutMyArea...I also don't fancy the door-to-door deliveries - I'd be ok in the summer but not so good in winter!

I thought maybe more mumsnetters would have heard of raring2go and I could have got more independant views on it all, but it doesn't appear to be the case.

Thanks to you all though as it's good to get the viewpoints of those I haven't converted by going on and on about it(!) and especially those who've seen an actual mag!

OP posts:
PandaG · 21/03/2007 20:10

Have you seen an actual mag? Happy to send you one if you want a look at it. maybe one from a differnet area would give you a different perspective. pandag at safe hyphen mail dot net.

RuthieMoo · 22/03/2007 21:46

Hi bebsy,
Local kids seems to be the mag in our area.
If you don't want to buy into a franchise and risk huge outlay/possible loss why not try doing what I do? Have a look at my website.
cheers Ruth
www.usborneonline.org/ruths-books

Original poster
bebsy · 23/03/2007 12:46

Which area are you in RuthieMoo? Thanks, I'll also take a look at the website.

PandaG, did you get my mail?

OP posts:
PandaG · 23/03/2007 12:51

Hi bebsy -

sorry your mail had found my junk mail box for some reason. Will send you the mag for a peruse.

Mybe I didn't find it as useful as my children are a bit older (5 and 7), and I already have a good idea the kind of things I can do with them in the area.

Hope you find it useful!

bunsen · 23/03/2007 22:26

OK, not an expert on franchises, but I am an expert on spotting a hard sell.
This looks like one alright, it smells of desperation. Notice how it aims at mothers? Its appealling it's franchise recruits at mothers who will think 'Yes, this is a good idea, it's my knowledgeable subject, it'll be easy'.
The truth is, you could set up your own version and save yourself the franchise fee. There is really little barrier to entry to this business field, minus a bit of desktop publishing knowledge (I'll oblige there if you like!) and a bit of marketing skills.
Go your own way. I bet you can do it if you have looked this far, you must have the stomach for it!

bunsen · 23/03/2007 22:28

Sorry, didn't mean to sound harsh, could be good on reflection, my point is though, why not do your own? Maximum profits!

Original poster
bebsy · 26/03/2007 13:36

I had thought about that bunsen, but can I just take the idea and apply it to my own area and start up my own mag? Are there no legal implications? I just assumed I couldn't do it and so never looked in to it any further.

OP posts:
bunsen · 26/03/2007 21:37

Bebsy, I don't think so, so long as your mag is a different name, after all there are many different publications that all cover the same thing, like ad trader mags and especially local mags advertising local nightlife and gigs, so I shouldn't think this would be any different?
Have a look at these could they give you some advice about starting up?
www.franinfo.co.uk/ thats a franchise info website
or
www.businesslink.gov.uk/

Original poster
bebsy · 27/03/2007 13:31

Thanks bunsen, I'll take a look at that. Not sure if I can do it either way though as looking closely at the finances, it doesn't look like it works out. I may well have to go back full time Not sure I can cope with that either - was in tears this morning thinking about it.

OP posts:
micegg · 29/03/2007 16:31

Bebsy,

I dont want to go into detail on here but all I will say (based on personal experience) is DON'T DO IT.

If you type My Mag into google there will be a link to a page called Shell Live wire which talks about the bad experiences people have had with this company (my mag, about my area and raring 2 go are run by the same company).

micegg