This closed corporation, which was formed in 1991 after two years of growth and with an eye to the future has as it's only two members Lesley and Ray Hogg. It was started in 1989 when Lesley was unhappy with the products then available. Ray developed and manufactured a much more suitable product. This also required the design and manufacture of a suitable nozzle and low density bottle for the application.
The range of paints has increased over the years and now has 100 colours in the range. In the range are plain, pearlesent, fluorescents and glitters as well as glues, plus over 200 other painting related products.  Lesley has also produced a number of design books and video's over the years as well as been invited to talk at various women's organisations.
Lesley has also been nominated as the Labone (S.A.B.C.) Women of the year for 2001( South African television ) Creative Image has been featured on national television by the Small Business Development Corporation. It has also been highlighted in numerous national magazines.
Creative Image became international in 1999 with studios now in Mauritius and Namibia.

THE CONCEPT

The idea is to utilise the franchise to establish a craft painting studio, operating from a home environment with overheads at a minimum. The studio will run ideally with classes to be made up of housewives in the  mornings, and working ladies in the evenings and weekends. A studio made be run with as many classes per week as the operator wants but we have found that 6/8 classes per week with 10/12 students per class is ideal..
Craft painting classes are not new, but the establishment of professionally run studios with set lessons having dynamic designs and ideas for everything ( clothes, wall hangings, bags, trays, cloths, pillow cases, canvas etc ) is completely unique. If you feel you are artistic you could start a studio without help, but the advantages of being part of a dynamic group like Creative Image with its unending supply of designs and ideas, as
well as marketing backup is unique in the industry.
Combine this with over 400 standard products available to you, it makes for a worthwhile investment in your future.

WHAT DO YOU GET FOR YOUR INVESTMENT IN THE STANDARD FRANCHISE

1. A two year renewable licence. Ongoing franchise fee after two year period is $100 per month..

2. The use of the name Creative Image Craft Painting Studio.

3. Two years lessons provided completely prepared during your training session and your time with Creative Image.

4. The right to purchase products at special rates, only available to franchise holders.

5. Free design service for advertising layouts for your promotions.

6. Assistance with design and layout of your studio..

7. Area demographics for population.

8. Services of head office for month end client demo's that you organise in your area ,when available

9. Continuous training.

10. All materials supplied at competitive prices.

11. Stock and 10 light boxes to the value of $2000.00.

12. Letterheads business cards and specific advertising material.

13. Assistance with marketing and promotions.

14. Inclusion in all general and national advertising and promotions.

15. Inclusion on the website

16. Student promotion via “online club”

MARKETING

The figures shown in appendices 1 and 2 are based on full classes which should be achieved after three to four months.
Remember that people will only beat a path to your door if they know where the door is, and the success of the studio is totally dependent on your personality and hard work. The advertising for the studio should be started before attending the training course, so as to have a client base hammering that door down.

Avenues for marketing direction:

1. The franchise studio will be added to all advertising done in conjunction with the franchiser in woman’s newspapers, craft magazines etc and our regular newsletters.

2. Local press smalls adverts - effective and inexpensive.

3. Local press editorial - something new in the neighborhood. ( Assistance will be given in preparing text.).

4. Local store free notice boards.

5. Studio newsletter insertions.

6. Mailing to provided client list, from our data base.

7. Month end free demo's.

8. Pamphlets and posters at local habby and wool stores.

9. Talks to woman’s clubs. (e.g. Rotary Anne's, etc.)

10. Shopping mall promotions.

11. Studio fetes.

12. Flea markets.

FINANCE

The business is easy to operate with low overheads and high profit margins. The basic concept is to create a pool of students, i.e. Initially sixty students, or six lessons of ten pupils each, This can be made up of thirty students attending twice a week, or sixty individual students. Each student purchases approximately three paints per week, with a profit margin of $2.00 per paint. Each student purchases either a T-shirt, a bag, a shirt or material to do the lesson on each week, with a profit of approximately$3.00 per item. Each student also purchases miscellaneous habby including additional T-shirts, takkies, beads, bangles ,etc. Profit in this department is dependent on the different types of stock you carry, but for this exercise we have set the figure extremely low.

The figures below are calculated on a 52 week year allowing for the Christmas holidays. However some studios derive considerable income by remaining open while the students make Christmas presents.

So, as reflected in the above figures, by increasing your student level by two extra per class, you can increase your income by approximately $22,000 a year, and accordingly for every additional student your income increases proportionately. These figures reflect turnover and profit on goods sold. Your individual overheads will reduce these figures but should not exceed $100 per month, which is less than 10% of profits.

The franchise fee is $20,000.00 (twenty thousand ). This amount is payable in full before training starts.  Training will be an initial 2 weeks plus additional trainig scheduled during your training. If you are near an existing studio, you will be required to attend 4 lessons at your cost to assess your abilities and to ensure that you are fully aware of what you are buying into, and the environment in which you will be operating. More lessons may be required before main training depending on ability If you wish to secure an area, a deposit of $5,000.00 (five thousand) is required.( Some franchises have secured their area a year before starting )