O2 launches Irish franchise opportunity

Telecommunications giant O2 has started franchising its successful retail concept in Ireland, and plans to have 35 new franchised stores up and running by the end of 2009. O2 is aiming to recruit 25 franchise owners by the end of September and already has signed franchise agreements with 20 independent retail businesses that are keen to re-brand as O2 telecommunication retailers.

Director of consumer sales at O2, Tony Hanway said: "Following a strategic review of our retail business in Ireland we decided to franchise the retail business model. The franchise is something we have been looking at for some time. The days of buoyant double-digit growth are over, and we needed to change our nationwide network to reflect this.

"O2 Retail already operates a chain of 55 corporate-owned stores and these will not be affected by the move into franchising. This is because the new franchised stores will not be in direct geographic competition with existing outlets. "The new franchise model will create between 100 and 150 jobs, which is a great opportunity especially in the current climate, where there are a lot of people who have lost their jobs and want to get into business for themselves."