Telcoinabox appoints New Zealand CEO and signs two franchisees in first month of operation

Telecommunications reseller and franchisor, Telcoinabox has appointed CEO Shannon Fisher to head the New Zealand operations.

Since officially opening its office in Wellington one month ago the new telecommunications entrant has already signed two franchisees, YLT and Creative Telcom.

Mr Fisher says demand to enter the telecommunications space as a reseller and franchisee in New Zealand is high.

“We have in excess of 30 serious enquiries in the pipeline and we haven’t even started a concerted marketing effort yet.”

Mr Fisher says there is a strong trend of ex-pats moving back from the UK who are feeling the squeeze of the global recession and are looking for ways to reinvent themselves.

“The majority of enquiries are coming from males between their 30s and mid-40s. Some are looking for a seachange like managing director of YLT Steven Brimblecombe who has moved from Brisbane to Wellington to start the business.

“What people are saying is that they really like the fact that all they need to do is just add a customer and you secure a recurring revenue stream. No other business model does that.

Also, they don’t need a shop front to operate or assume someone else’s brand. They can create their own brand name, look and feel, which is nothing like a traditional franchise system.

“We would, however, like to see more female interest. There have been some incredible success stories in Australia and we would like to duplicate the same success in New Zealand.

“We really see an opportunity for females – owning their own telco gives them the freedom to juggle a family and business and manage their work life balance at their own pace.”

A typical franchisee in Australia turns between approximately A$500 - $700,000 (NZD $600 - $800,000) per annum and system costs NZ$65,000 + GST.

Telcoinabox signed deals with Telecom NZ and TelstraClear late last year.

Telcoinabox Group CEO Damian Kay says partnering with these major players has given the business a competitive edge while providing new franchisees with a sense of security that they are selling recognised brands and quality products.

“In this recessionary environment people are looking for a business model that will get them through this downturn while at the same time secure a strong margin and guaranteed return on investment.”

Telcoinabox NZ has replicated its full-service Australian wholesale-to-resale business model to business customers, including individuals, ISPs, utilities and other large organisations.

Shannon Fisher has over 20 years experience in Telecommunications. He owns Creative Telcom in Australia, which is part of the Telcoinabox network of service providers. Prior to which, he worked in management, sales and solutions at Alcatel for 16 years, a multinational telecommunications company. He held positions through New Zealand, Australia, AsiaPac and Europe.

ENDS.

For information, contact Andreina Garofali on +61 (0)410 434 227

For comment, contact Damian Kay on +61 (0)2 8248 9002 or +61 (0)413 888 655 or

Shannon Fisher on +64 (0)4 381 2960 or +64 (0)21 686 230

About Telcoinabox: www.telcoinabox.com About Telecom Wholesale: www.telecomwholesale.co.nz