Franchisees Caroline and Craig Haxton
In September 2018, Rupert launched his ActionCOACH business in Kinross, Scotland, and his cool head in a crisis was just what his local business community needed.
Although things were going well for Scotia Cabins, Brexit caused an unprecedented strain on Caroline Haxton and her cabin business. After relying on international suppliers and manufacturers for several years, it was a tricky hurdle that needed a solution. Luckily for Caroline, the answer had been at her fingertips the whole time.
"I was President of our local BNI club, and that's where I met my local Action Coach Rupert," said Caroline. "Brexit had shaken both mine and my husband Craig's confidence, so we needed some guidance on how to survive the blow."
The pair decided to bring ActionCOACH on board, investing in weekly coaching sessions beginning in January 2019. Action Coaches work with business owners, helping them in several areas including teaching them how to increase their profits, develop powerful systems and build a strong team.
Laying the groundwork
"One of the very first tasks we completed with our Action Coach was forming and defining our goals. We'd never even thought about what our long-term targets were, and we soon realised this would help create a clear route to the growth of the business.
"The next crucial step was about forming a stellar sales team to take this activity off my plate. Unless I worked every hour of the day, having me as the salesperson wasn't manageable. In August 2019, we recruited two new team members, allowing me to focus on other important aspects required to grow even more."
Creating a clear structure
Caroline would be the first to admit the first half of 2019 was a struggle, but soon it started to look like a brighter future for Scotia Cabins.
"I think it's common for business owners to be hesitant in letting go of some of their tasks, in fear it would have a catastrophic result but, in reality, it's never that drastic. I came around to the way of thinking as a manager and creating a team to continue to deliver the same level of results. This shift in mindset was crucial for facing the future.
"We started to believe in our abilities, and that's the moment we saw an improvement in our results. With 34 different cabin designs (up from the original four we provided before we began business coaching), we took the opportunity and ran with it."
1,000% increase in profits
"Sales increased by 240% and revenue by 233%. We anticipated an influx of orders, but there was no way we could've predicted how many. From the year before, our net profit increased by 1,000%. It's amazing to see this comparison in complete contrast to 12 months prior, whilst facing one of the biggest economic challenges in over a decade.
"As well as the great performance, I've been able to reduce my hours and focus on other aspects within the business. I now control my schedule and can rely on my trusty team to keep things operating when I'm not there. It also means Craig and I have the time to spend with our two children, Isla and Fraser.
"The business has undergone a complete overhaul, as well as our whole lives. Our local Action Coach has been a crucial part of Scotia Cabins for two very difficult years, and not only has he helped us grow but he's also been a rock for us physically and emotionally."
If you want to grow your business like Caroline and Craig, take action with a free 6 Steps Seminar which starts you on the path to:
- Developing your USP so you can carve out a niche in your marketplace
- Building a healthy team culture that will implement powerful change
- Securing profits on a consistent basis.
To find out where your nearest free 6 Steps Seminar is, visit: actioncoach.co.uk/events and enter your postcode in the search bar.
The coach's perspective
Since joining the world's number 1 business coaching franchise, ActionCOACH, Rupert Hine has been creating not only a more profitable business for himself, but also a dramatically improved life for his clients too.
"Scotia Cabins' results have shown tremendous growth, and I'm proud to be beside them as they pave their way to even further success. They are ideal clients - open to ideas and receptive to any advice I've got to give. I couldn't ask for more.
"I'm incredibly privileged to work with them and they have become my friends in the process. They've embraced coaching with open arms, and it's paid off - I can't wait to see more of what's in store for this pair!"
If you want to build a business with scalability and longevity, make a difference in your local community and you're the kind of person who:
A) loves learning and developing yourself;
B) has enjoyed success in your career or sport; and
C) is willing to invest if you see substantial rewards can be made...
then find out more about becoming an Action Coach by watching the overview video at actioncoach.co.uk/franchise