October 27, 2009Director of
Price Attack Franchising Carol Jarred has been named the 2009 ‘Franchise Woman of the Year’ at the
Franchise Council of Australia’s (FCA) Awards Evening.
Specialising in professional hair care, Jarred co-owns the 128-store strong national company with her husband Barry Jarred who is the Managing Director.
Already surprised after taking out the 2009 “QLD/NT Franchise Woman of the Year” title in August, Jarred admits she didn’t expect to win the national award.
“It’s unbelievable and such an honour to be declared the winner of such a highly coveted award,” she says.
“I can’t take all the credit though. This award win is thanks to all the people that have shaped and mentored me into becoming the business woman I am today.”
Kate Johnson of Women in Franchising (WIF), an initiative of the FCA, says the award is highly anticipated by many women within the franchising sector.
“Carol won the award based on her outstanding business achievements, leadership philosophies and initiatives, positive influence on other women, contribution to the franchising industry, contribution to the community and professional development,” Johnson says.
“She is such a successful business woman within franchising and a great example to other women within the industry of what they can achieve in business when they put their mind to it. I congratulate her on behalf of WIF on this wonderful achievement,” she says.
Jarred's career in the franchise beauty industry began when she took on the role as a Price Attack franchisee.
“With experience as a hairdresser and retail business owner I was presented with the opportunity in the early 80s to become a Price Attack franchisee in Bendigo where the beauty industry was making a roaring trade,” she explains.
“In 1990 we sold the Bendigo-based business and moved to South Australia to take up the first Price Attack Master Franchise for South Australia and the Northern Territory."
Following this milestone, Jarred and her husband moved to Queensland and turned two underperforming stores into profitable businesses.
“We knew it needed a refresh to sustain business growth so we met with the franchisor to discuss the options. The result was we walked away the new owners of the business in November 2007," Jarred says.
She admits her first achievement as franchisor of Price Attack was a rebrand.
“The rollout of the new brand image began in August and it has been very well received incorporating a new logo, business cards, advertisements, store fit-outs, uniforms and computer system."
As a successful businesswoman, Jarred says she hopes her award win will help encourage other women to strive for success in all aspects of their life.
“I’m often asked if a work/life balance is achievable and my answer is yes. I raised two children while I transitioned from franchisee to master franchisee to franchisor and I can truly say I had a good lifestyle balance which came down to organisation, time management and delegation.
“In my experience women are very committed hands on operators – they simply need a system that is easy to follow and that offers them support and flexibility."