Kenko Foot Reflexology Franchise Business Expansion Story

TWO decades ago, foot reflexology was almost unheard of in Singapore. When Jimi Tan started his first outlet at Joo Chiat in 1991, business was poor. Massaging people's feet was thought to be a lowly service. For the first few months, Mr Tan received only one or two customers a day and could barely make ends meet.

'I never gave up,' says Mr Tan, founder of Kenko Foot Reflexology and Spas, who then lived with his wife in his rented Joo Chiat shop to cut down his expenses.

Today, it has expanded to over 15 outlets in Singapore and 30 franchised outlets in Indonesia, Malaysia and India. From its humble beginnings of just two staff - Mr Tan and his wife - its manpower has increased to 400 staff across the region.

But given the public's poor impression of foot reflexology, the road to success was no bed of roses.

For the first 10 years, Mr Tan grinded away but could barely break even.

It was only after the eleventh year that profits started flowing in. In 2009, Kenko made a turnover of more than $10 million from its local outlets and royalties received alone.

'It's all about passion,' explains Mr Tan, winner of the Promising Franchisor of the Year award - an initiative organised by Franchising and Licensing Association of Singapore.

As the grandson of a Chinese physician, Mr Tan picked up some of his reflexology skills when he was young. But it was a family tragedy - his father who was the sole breadwinner suffered a stroke and died - that convinced him to be a reflexology practitioner.

Tags:reflexology franchise, foot massage franchise, kenko foot reflexology, franchised outlets, franchisor of the year, Mr Tan,foot spa franchise,

Source: Business Asia One . Com, Thu dec9 2010.


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