Shared Earth held its first ‘Discovery Day’ on Thursday 15 November, to introduce potential franchisees to Shared Earth and explain what is involved in its franchise package. Seven people attended from a variety of towns around the country and feedback was positive, with almost everyone wanting to progress to the next stage of undertaking detailed interviews and searches for specific suitable properties.
Coconut Creatives has been working with Shared Earth since September to create and manage the public relations launch of the franchise package. With very little advertising undertaken, the campaign has been hugely successful with national, regional and industry specific PR and Media interest being aparent. Since the launch of Shared Earth’s franchise scheme in October, over 70 people have expressed an interest, including two current wholesale customers who have approached Shared Earth to discuss the possibility of converting their shops into a Shared Earth franchise.
To prepare for the opening of the first franchise, Shared Earth is undertaking a major re-branding exercise in their existing 7 shops. A new green colour has been agreed for outside walls and windows, and all shop signs are to be unified, hopefully with the letters made by Fair Trade supplier Mitra Bali in Indonesia.