Regional Franchise of the Year - 2007
The team at Fastway Couriers (Gold Coast) are proud to accept the award of Regional Franchise of the Year. This award is testament to our dedicated Courier Franchisees and staff. As said on the awards night, we believe that Fastway provides the best courier service in Australia and that to be voted by our peers in the network as the best Regional Franchise is therefore both humbling and uplifting.

Our plans for the future are to increase our team of Courier Franchisees to at least 40 vehicles within 5 years, and continue to provide good returns to all of our stakeholders through implementation of the Fastway system. We believe that with the Fastway brand becoming recognised as one of the market leaders in our category, we have a great opportunity to capitalise on this and grow our sales through gaining more market share from our competitors.

The Wild West
The first franchise of Central West NSW is now up and running in Mudgee with Steve and Julie Taylor at the helm. Originally Sydneysiders Steve and Julie were drawn to the Mudgee area because of the beauty of its countryside and friendly people. They now live on a farm with their two sons.

The system provides all the tools and support that they need to market their business – it’s just a matter of getting out there and making their presence known by finding out what each customers’ freight needs are. Freight analysis and saturation marketing have been keys to growing their customer base.

“Our aim is to build the business day by day, week by week - more customers and more pick ups. We have close to 50 customers so far so and the van is filling up more and more each week.”

Steve and Julie believe that success is in the detail from the selling through to customer service and care for customers’ parcels. They are not just anyone’s parcels, they are important to your customer so you treat them like they are your parcels. It may be wine they have grown themselves or olives they have hand picked, so we need to handle them with care and respect. With the west opening up there is so much scope for Fastway to be the preferred and number one courier company out there, and they want to be involved in seeing this to fruition.

How this Newcastle Courier Franchisee does it better…
I have been with Fastway Newcastle since January 2006. During that time I have learnt that if I sell the correct labels, give great service and build good relationship with my customers I will make good money. Since purchasing my franchise I have split and sold off 2 suburbs and have still had a 20% growth, plus a capital gain.

“How do I do it best?” I joined a focus group to learn how to convert customers on to the correct labels and how to sell extra services. I made sure I got to know my sales rep well and I supply her with regular leads. I stick to my approved timetable and have built a great rapport with my customers.

My advice to any new courier is to take the time to set up your run in drop order priority. Also ensure you are never doubling back or missing drops. Always work with your sales rep and try to have all your customers on the correct labels. All this saves me time, money and effort. I was even lucky enough to have Tony move the depot into my area. As Maureen (Finance and Administration Manager), is my mother-in-law, I’m not allowed to make mistakes, forget parcels, have a dirty van or ever be out of uniform!

From company driver to Perth’s Courier Franchisee of the Year
It’s been a successful run (excuse the pun) for Roy Harris, a Courier Franchisee for Perth Regional Franchise. Roy started out as a company driver in 2003, he then purchased the territory of Bentley/Victoria Park in 2004. He built up his territory and split it in June 2006. It took him only 3 months to reach his previous income levels. Once again, Roy has been so successful in growing his business that he is operating a second van in his territory, in preparation for splitting yet again!

Roy’s strategy for growing his business has been to use the full range of marketing material including giving his customers promotional products and above all, great customer service. He is also always well presented in his Courier uniform. Roy made Courier Franchisee of the Year (Perth), not only because of his business efforts but also because he shows exceptional personal traits. He arrives early to have a cup of coffee with the other Couriers, caring about their needs, as their FAC representative. He also stays back after work to talk to other Couriers and his Regional Franchisee about new ideas and initiatives to improve operations.

Thanks Roy, for being such a great example.