Here’s a checklist of inspiration for aspiring exporters. Our collection of 50 favourite export case studies shows that there is no magic ingredient to making it to the world stage, but it certainly helps to get the basics right.
Sylvia Wilson on Bark Busters
Exporting since: 1999
Key markets: New Zealand, UK, US.
With 409 Bark Busters franchises around the world, you might be surprised to discover that head office employs only three people. “We don’t need lots of staff as we are dealing with master franchisees and they run their own business and look after the franchisees under their care,” says director and co-founder, Sylvia Wilson.
Bark Busters train dogs and people to “help humans and dogs live in harmony”, and is currently established in New Zealand, the UK, the US, Canada, Japan, Taiwan, and Israel, with France, Belgium, Austria, and Switzerland due to start this year.
But it hasn’t all been smooth sailing. When Bark Busters first tackled the US, master franchisees were on the brink of signing 10 franchisees when September 11 hit, and all franchisees pulled out. Using franchise consultants, the team began again and now has some 250 franchisees.