INTERVIEW
SMART MOVE
John Tattam has gone from selling double
glazing to providing a fast and reliable service
as an Autosmart franchisee. Trevor Johnson
reports
A
s one of his company’s
most senior and successful
franchisees, John Tatta
reckoned there wasn’t
much he hadn’t tackled in the course of
a 23-year career with vehicle cleaning
product specialist Autosmart.
“We’ve done everything, from
combine harvesters to pushbikes, as
well as thousands of cars,” John says.
“But cleaning up after hens was a new
one on me.”NEW CHALLENGE
Autosmart franchisee for Brighton and
Hove, John was recently contacted by
a poultry farmer on his patch who was
having trouble keeping his henhouses
clean.
“He had about £60,000 worth of free
range hens, which came in at night and
stood on plastic mesh,” John says.
“The owner had never found an
efficient way of keeping it clean, so he
asked if we could help. And we always
like a new challenge.”John put the problem to the experts
who devise and constantly update the
company’s 300 cleaning products,
from hand care to paintwork reviver,
that Autosmart produces in its own
factory.
“They have come up with an oven
cleaner-type product,” John says. “We
have high hopes that it will do the job.
I don’t think our boffins have been
beaten by anything yet.”
John had spent eight years selling
double glazing before deciding to look
for a franchise and has no hesitation in
telling us how much he disliked it.
“It was the horrible side of the sales
business, but I suppose it was good
training - if you can sell double glazing
you can sell pretty well anything,” he
says.
But John didn’t want to be
pressured into buying a franchise: “I
looked around at what was available
and was in danger of being hassled into
making a decision. Then I had a chat
with some people from Autosmart andthey were really relaxed and such a
nice bunch - it was almost like a family.
“I decided Autosmart was the
franchise for me and I have never
regretted the decision.”MOBILE SHOWROOM
John drives an Autosmart mobile
showroom carrying a complete range
of vehicle, janitorial and workshop
cleaning products and a variety of
accessories.
“I have a product for virtually every
job and always look forward to talking
over problems and finding a solution,”
he says.
The distinctive, purpose built
vehicles are laid out supermarket
style.
“The customer comes on board,
sees the full range of products, tries
out the ones they’re interested in and
takes immediate delivery,” John says.
“I have always provided a fast and
reliable service for my customers -
which now total around 200 - and have
developed a wide range of skills for
cleaning anything, from boats to taxis -
and now henhouses.
“I enjoy working with customers
and the Autosmart range is so
comprehensive that up to now I have
been able to find the right product
for any need. I make regular visits
to customers and the Autosmart
customer service team is always there
if I need any advice and guidance.”
John’s business is largely with the
car trade, plus a growing proportion
of coaches and trucks, as well as
engineering, marine, printing and
farming customers.
“If anything needs cleaning,
chances are we will have a product
that will do it,” he says.John
Tattam:
Autosmart
franchisee
for Brighton
and Hove