Vital Stats
- Company: Alunite
- Nature of Franchise: Manufacture and installation of aluminium products
- Established: 2006
- Footprint: 15 franchise stores
- Investment Required:
- Set-up Cost = R130 000
- Entrance Fee = R 30 000
- Initial Working Capital = R130 000
- Total Investment Required = R290 000
- Management fees: 2% of monthly turnover
- Marketing Fees: None
- Contact person: Jonathan Fleming
- Email: franchise@alunite.co.za
- Visit: www.alunite.co.zaandwww.lumbercity.co.za
- Call: +27 (0)21 551 3433 / +27 (0)71 642 9247
About The Brand
The Alunite franchise was developed by the same management team that runs the successful Lumber City Group. The Lumber City franchise established in 1979 currently has 25 independent stores in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and Nigeria. Lumber City opened its first glass and aluminium business in Cape Town in 1989. By adapting and improving this highly successful business model over the years and compiling a comprehensive operations manual, the Alunite franchise has been established as an attractive and affordable business opportunity for franchisees.
Alunite franchises manufacture and fit standard and purpose-made aluminium products, including casement and sliding windows, single and double hinge doors, domestic and heavy duty sliding doors, shower doors, shop fronts, and patio and braai enclosures, amongst other products. Branches also specialise in the replacement of old wood and steel windows with custom-made aluminium products.
Franchisee Selection Criteria
Alunite franchisees come from all sectors. The ideal franchisee is a motivated, innovative and hardworking people’s person who has passion, business acumen and drive to succeed. Technical knowledge and experience of Alunite products is not essential as comprehensive training and a complete operations manual are provided.
Franchisor Support
Head office offers detailed factory lay-outs, plans of all the fixtures and fittings required, lists of machinery, tools and all other equipment is provided, as well as a comprehensive product knowledge compilation. In the training process, lots of time is spent on budgeting, goal setting, forward planning, how to use the job card systems, the price lists, the calculating programs for each and every product and our quoting formula’s.
The franchisor continuously updates price lists, calculator programs, job card systems and is on standby seven days a week to assist the franchisee.
Your Investment
The set-up cost (R130 000) covers all the machinery, tools, fixtures, fittings, furniture, administrative necessities, deposits, etc. whilst the balance of the money (R160 000) is used for the entrance fee, initial working capital and unforeseen expenses.
A 180m2 to 240m2 factory space is ample for an Alunite operation. It takes six weeks to two months from the application to opening date. The estimated time to break-even varies from store to store depending on the operator. In some cases break-even was reached within the first three months.
Application Process
- Study the website and obtain passwords to view the business plans
- Contact head office with any questions and queries
- Determine whether the potential franchisee has the required capital
- Pay initial fee
- Sign the franchise agreement and secure the mutually agreed upon area of operation
- Receive the operations manual
- Start one to six week plan to open the new Alunite store.
About Alunite’s products
Glass and Mirrors
Glass of various popular thicknesses and textures is stocked. Clear class from 2mm to 6mm, safety glass, obscure glass, and 3mm, 4mm and 6mm mirrors can be carried in stock sheets.
Patio and shower doors
Standard patio doors and side-lights are stocked in popular sizes for the DIY and domestic market. The most popular sizes are 1,8m, 2,4m and 3m. Also readily available to the market are patio doors up to 6m wide.
All Alunite’s manufacture their own domestic and heavy duty (shop front) sliding doors to the exact specifications of the customer.
A range of shower doors is also available in popular sizes and styles.
Windows
Casement and horizontal sliding windows are manufactured in stores but are also available from Alunite’s suppliers. The aluminium extrusions are available in various colours with white being the most popular. The cutting and assembling of window frames and glazing are done instore.
Enclosures and stack-away doors
Enclosures, where shop front aluminium extrusions are used, are very specialised and in great demand. Enclosing restaurants, patios, braai areas, pools etc. has become very popular.
The stack-away doors manufactured and fitted by all our Alunite branches are very popular. This product does not have the limitations of sliding doors and virtually the complete width of the door can be opened (or just a section).
Specialised items
Non-standard manufactured items are exciting to Alunite franchisees. The availability of a wide variety of aluminium extrusions enables Alunite to design and manufacture almost anything.
Remove and replace
Replacing old steel and wooden windows and doors in older houses with aluminium products is an increasing trend throughout South Africa. High margins are attained as homeowners are willing to pay for upgrading and modernising their property.
Low maintenance
Aluminium windows and doors are low maintenance. It does not rot, warp, rust or the paint does not peel. Most sub-economical houses are now fitted with aluminium windows. With the enormous housing backlog, the demand for our products will increase exponentially.
