Franchising success and social responsibility: FrogBox has got it all!
New concepts
Author :
Fred Collay
When discussing with Doug Burgoyne, co-founder of FrogBox, one wonders: does the secret of success lies in inventing – or in re-inventing?
Consider the product:
A very convenient green plastic box, that you could rent online, that is delivered to your door and that can make your moving so much simpler. They can be reused hundreds of time, and whatever is inside won’t get crushed.
What’s all the fuss about, you may ask, when good old cardboard boxes do the trick almost as well.
Precisely: everything lies in this almost. The imagination, talent and determination behind FrogBox have made it one of the top Canadian companies, with incredibly high profits and already 21 franchise locations in little more than 6 months.
A strong and simple story and great relationships with selected movers
Everything started 3 years ago in the mind of Doug Burgoyne. Since then, the company has consistently carried about an image of cool – who doesn’t like frogs?
Everybody probably remembers when they got an incredible reaction at the Dragon Den’s, the business angel show on CBC and were able to raise capital to ignite their project. Because they firmly believe in green business and donate 1% of gross revenue to frog habitat restoration, they manage to rally a lot of different people from various backgrounds around them.
Another one of their strengths, not as glimmering as the TV shows and the nice little frogs, is their relationships with movers. It’s a funny partnership in which they are able to cross-reference their services and at the same time be competitors – movers do sale cardboard boxes to their customers!
Franchise opportunities: in the footsteps of Brian Scudamore and 1-800-GOT-JUNK?
All the larger Canadian cities have a FrogBox franchise, with the exception of Montreal and Quebec. But the convenient, rather inexpensive and environmentally friendly little green containers will shortly show up in la Belle Province too – and in smaller Canadian towns.
For now, with 4 locations in the US (Seattle, Madison, Minneapolis and Boise), the focus is on the US. Entering this market is made easier by FrogBox strategic advisor, Brian Scudamore, of 1800GOTJUNK? Business owners who have already experienced fantastic growth with the garbage removal company (in Seattle and Minneapolis) have also acquired FrogBox franchises.
But that’s not all. FrogBox doesn’t just surf on 1800GOTJUNK’s network, they also get inspired by it. “Trash removal is a crappy business, yet Brian made it clean by bringing in uniforms, timeliness and care. It’s the same thing for us. Most people don’t like their movers. Of course, it’s a difficult job, but we believe we’ve improved their image with our boxes.”
On top of that, both companies IT systems were implemented by the same network specialist, and FROGBOX consulted with PR Specialists from 1-800-GOT-JUNK early in their initiative.
Tailoring the franchise package –Vancouver Aquarium or Ducks unlimited?
Although every new franchise owners receive a standard one-week training in Vancouver, most of the marketing tips they get depend on the local markets. The marketing plans vary greatly from one location to another. Coaches at the head office guide and give advice on Media and Public Relations strategies.
The franchise owner is free to pick whichever green charity to which to donate their 1%. In any case, the corporation is adamant about giving back. In Vancouver, FrogBox, donates to the Aquarium, where a frog program was started with these funds. But in Halifax, where there’s no local frog habitat restoration projects – simply because no frogs live in that part of the world! – the franchise owner has decided to support another wetland inhabitant, for the benefit of Ducks unlimited, a not-for-profit dedicated to protecting ducks habitat.
By making the FrogBox story a success story, the general public, professionals and investors have acknowledged that green business can be a profitable business.
For more details, visit: www.frogbox.com
Consider the product:
A very convenient green plastic box, that you could rent online, that is delivered to your door and that can make your moving so much simpler. They can be reused hundreds of time, and whatever is inside won’t get crushed.
What’s all the fuss about, you may ask, when good old cardboard boxes do the trick almost as well.
Precisely: everything lies in this almost. The imagination, talent and determination behind FrogBox have made it one of the top Canadian companies, with incredibly high profits and already 21 franchise locations in little more than 6 months.
A strong and simple story and great relationships with selected movers
Everything started 3 years ago in the mind of Doug Burgoyne. Since then, the company has consistently carried about an image of cool – who doesn’t like frogs?
Everybody probably remembers when they got an incredible reaction at the Dragon Den’s, the business angel show on CBC and were able to raise capital to ignite their project. Because they firmly believe in green business and donate 1% of gross revenue to frog habitat restoration, they manage to rally a lot of different people from various backgrounds around them.
Another one of their strengths, not as glimmering as the TV shows and the nice little frogs, is their relationships with movers. It’s a funny partnership in which they are able to cross-reference their services and at the same time be competitors – movers do sale cardboard boxes to their customers!
Franchise opportunities: in the footsteps of Brian Scudamore and 1-800-GOT-JUNK?
All the larger Canadian cities have a FrogBox franchise, with the exception of Montreal and Quebec. But the convenient, rather inexpensive and environmentally friendly little green containers will shortly show up in la Belle Province too – and in smaller Canadian towns.
For now, with 4 locations in the US (Seattle, Madison, Minneapolis and Boise), the focus is on the US. Entering this market is made easier by FrogBox strategic advisor, Brian Scudamore, of 1800GOTJUNK? Business owners who have already experienced fantastic growth with the garbage removal company (in Seattle and Minneapolis) have also acquired FrogBox franchises.
But that’s not all. FrogBox doesn’t just surf on 1800GOTJUNK’s network, they also get inspired by it. “Trash removal is a crappy business, yet Brian made it clean by bringing in uniforms, timeliness and care. It’s the same thing for us. Most people don’t like their movers. Of course, it’s a difficult job, but we believe we’ve improved their image with our boxes.”
On top of that, both companies IT systems were implemented by the same network specialist, and FROGBOX consulted with PR Specialists from 1-800-GOT-JUNK early in their initiative.
Tailoring the franchise package –Vancouver Aquarium or Ducks unlimited?
Although every new franchise owners receive a standard one-week training in Vancouver, most of the marketing tips they get depend on the local markets. The marketing plans vary greatly from one location to another. Coaches at the head office guide and give advice on Media and Public Relations strategies.
The franchise owner is free to pick whichever green charity to which to donate their 1%. In any case, the corporation is adamant about giving back. In Vancouver, FrogBox, donates to the Aquarium, where a frog program was started with these funds. But in Halifax, where there’s no local frog habitat restoration projects – simply because no frogs live in that part of the world! – the franchise owner has decided to support another wetland inhabitant, for the benefit of Ducks unlimited, a not-for-profit dedicated to protecting ducks habitat.
By making the FrogBox story a success story, the general public, professionals and investors have acknowledged that green business can be a profitable business.
For more details, visit: www.frogbox.com