DIYWEEK.net

Specialist Group chairman Johnny Franks
How did you get where you are today?
A lot of hard work and love of our industry

Where do you work? How big is the company?
Our offices and warehouse are in Trafford Park, Manchester; ideally placed for national distribution. Last year our turnover was £6m this year we are on target for £7.25m and next year we are anticipating growth of 70%. We employ 55 people.

How has your role changed?
For many years I was managing director of Specialist Group, but six months ago we appointed Stephen Jackson as my replacement and I have moved to the heady title of chairman! This has allowed me to concentrate on strategy and my main passion - product development.

What challenges do you, and the company as a whole, face?
I think that our challenges are no different to any other business that wants to grow. The market is changing at a faster pace than ever before. For example, who would have envisaged only 10 years ago how important online trading would become and how fast discount retailers have grown over the past five years? The challenge is to have a product range that is suitable for supplying all sorts of new markets, as well as the traditional builders' merchants and wholesalers.

How will you address them?
Our products and service will help us maintain and grow sales to all sectors of our industry.

What's the long-term plan?
Our long term plan is to turn both of our brands (Specialist Hardware and Builders Brand Tools) to be internationally recognised.

How do you spend an average working day?
Since my appointment as chairman, I was supposed to have a little extra free time but, apart from sometimes stopping for coffee on my way to work, this doesn't seem to have happened! When I am not travelling, visiting our factories and developing new lines, I am in the office every day.

Are you a DIYer or a gardener? What was your last project?
I am not a gardener because I have terrible hayfever. Although I have been in the DIY business all my working life I have never been really good at large DIY projects. I draw the line at putting up shelves.

What do you do outside of work to relax?
We have three daughters and three grandchildren and are a very close family, so we spend a lot of time together. If my wife Madelynne and I really want to relax, we fly off to Mallorca to spend a few days at our favourite little hotel that we have been visiting for the past 15 years. This gives us "a change of scenery", so we can enjoy walking and eating good food.

What would your colleagues be surprised to learn about you?
I am a slot car racing (Scalextric) enthusiast.

What's the best advice you've ever been given?
Probably the best advice that I have ever been given is to always remember that it's not worth working hard and building a successful business unless you can have fun along the way.

What's the worst?
I have used a financial adviser only once and he suggested that I buy bank shares - just before they all collapsed! Luckily I didn't have very much to invest, so only lost a small amount.

What are the biggest issues facing the DIY sector today?
I would say that, like any industry, our sector needs to adapt to the current environment. We need to be flexible, as suppliers, to support our loyal customers and also assist them in embracing new technologies and take advantage of multiple channels to market. Just because we are a traditional industry, we must not ignore the need to innovate.

How has the industry changed since you first became involved in it?
This is a very easy question to answer. I started the company in 1970 when there were no multiple DIY retailers, so most of the business was done through hardware and DIY shops.

What does the next 12 months hold for the sectors as a whole - are you optimistic or pessimistic?
Very optimistic. It seems that we are gradually moving out of recession. New property construction is on the rise, house prices are increasing and more people seem to have confidence to improve their homes. All of which should help to substantially improve our sector.

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE in association with BHETA and Specialist Group