2009 White Knight door2door Annual Conference

Monday, February 16, 2009

White Knight door2door Ltd

2009 Annual Conference

White Knight door2door Ltd, previously part of White Knight Laundry Services Ltd, held their first conference on 7^th February 2009 at the Coppid Beech Hotel in Bracknell. The decision to separate the predominately domestic, business from the higher volume rental operation was taken by the Board of  H. Tomlins Ltd in 2008 and on 1^st January 2009 White Knight door2door Ltd was born.

Robert Adams, Managing Director of White Knight door2door Ltd, opened the conference with an explanation of the reason for change and the benefits this will bring to the new company. He went on to give an overview of the financial performance of 2008, which saw a healthy growth on 2007. Robert then went on to discuss the business plan for 2009 which included some exciting initiatives to grow the franchised business. Jane Jones, Business development Executive, discussed the affect of the various business development campaigns of 2008 and went on to explain the direction 2009 would take, building on the successful campaigns of 2008 and the promotion of key services. White Knight door2door will also provide a retail service to its customers with Franchisees benefiting from commission opportunities by delivering the products at the same time as the clean laundry and dry cleaning. 

The audience was given an overview of the business to business operation by Peter Tomlins who also gave an entertaining interpretation of the current economic climate and how he views the future for the world economies.

Guest speakers, Andrew Tomlins of BMN Ltd and Tom Endean of the British Franchise Association addressed the conference giving an insight into their respective organisations. BMN won  the  tender to design and build the new White Knight website. Andrew Tomlins gave an overview of the functionality and the future interactive capabilities which will enable all customers to interrogate their accounts, track their laundry through the plant and make payments online. White Knight is the first company in the laundry industry to have a fully integrated website with their own IT systems and which allows the exchange of information in both directions, updating both the web and the internal system in real time.

The domestic division, now White Knight door2door Ltd, began Franchising the collection and delivery function in 2001. There are now 15 Franchisees operating 15 territories. The company is an Associate Member of the British Franchise Association. Tom Endean of the BFA introduced the conference to the re-launch of the Proud to Franchise brand which the BFA hopes will raise the profile of the Franchise industry to the consumer and promote the benefits of buying from a Franchisee in preference to a corporate company.

Delegates included White Knight door2door Franchisees, guests from key organisations and staff from both White Knight door2door Ltd and White Knight Laundry Services Ltd. With all completed feedback sheets commenting on the success of the day.