Zockoll® Franchising since 1963

1963

Dyno-Rod was the brain child of its founder Jim Zockoll who revolutionized drain services in the UK at the beginning of the 1960’s and in doing so created a new industry now worth billions of pounds per year. Additionally Dyno-Rod was the first non fast food franchised business in the UK and also a founder member of the British Franchise Association (BFA).

From its beginnings till now, Dyno-Rod leads the field and remains the nation's favourite Drain Cleaning and Repair Service. Sold in 2004, it now forms part of the Centrica Group of companies and is still the benchmark others seek to achieve.
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1968

The Piggy-Back trailer system was unique in that it used a patented wrap around hitch to allow towing from the wheels.
Patented wheel plates were attached to the rear wheels and connected to the towing arm. This was a quick, easy and inexpensive way to rent a trailer. The trailers came in five sizes, fully insured and road worthiness certified.
1969

From the very beginning, Pit.Stop was a success story.

It offered motorists a fast and efficient while you wait fitting service for silencers and exhaust systems, eventually adding shock absorbers and brakes to the mix. Operations extended to Germany and in 1976 Pit.Stop was bought by Tenneco / Walker.

1976

The first Texon car paint shop site opened in Balham, South London in 1976 to provide a guaranteed car respray service offering a wide variety of shades and colours, including the new 'metallic' finishes coming to market.

The slogan ' Any car - any make - any colour from £39.50' resulted in queues of motorists looking to use this unique and affordable service.
1977

Take 34 different ice cream flavours (more than the competitors) a number of exotic sundaes with names like Cable Car, Dance Hall Girl, Gold Rush, Golden Gate and Earthquake, mix in girls wearing gingham dresses, set them against a turn of the century backdrop - 'Frisco fashion - and you have six West Coast USA style ice cream parlors in Germany.
1979

In September 1979 the Autrac franchise was launched to provide a mobile engine tuning service throughout the UK.

Autrac vans carried an onboard computer which presented each customer with a print-out of the car's performance before and after tuning.

1981

Launched in March 1981 to tackle the 'Cowboy' image of plumbers of the day.

The DRIPS plumbing franchise provided 247 365 service via one memorable telephone number (01 888 0 888). The franchisees used standardised charging and maintained contact with the call centre via radio controlled vans. Eventually absorbed into the Dyno-Plumbing franchise.
1987

With its dynamic black and orange livery and catchy strap line “From Here To There With Care” bought together a network of small independent couriers, each commonly operating 2-3 vehicles, and jointly providing a collection and delivery network of approximately 200 vehicles nationwide.

Supported by third party hubbing hauliers, each days local collections would be transported to a central sorting hub in the Midlands, from where smaller third party hauliers would deliver through the night to regional hubs ready for next day delivery by the local network of ZIF Couriers.

Quickly seen as being a potential giant in the industry ZIF network was acquired by Nexday Couriers of Northampton.

1994

An innovative new approach to branding in the UK and Ireland. We take a normal phone number and turn it into a memorable phone name that spells a name, product or service ( a tried and tested direct marketing tool in the USA and Australia).

Combine a phone name with a matching domain name and you create a ready made brand on which to put your business model.

The name behind the numbers^®

phonenames.com
1998

In 1998 Zockoll entered the flowers delivery business and in 2003, bought Flowers2Send, an online florist based in Skipton, Yorkshire.

Rebranded, the operations were extended to include the Republic of Ireland, France and Spain. The business was sold in 2008.

Just click or call our name^™

0800flowers.com

2001

After an initial investment into a handyman service called 'Redjacks' in 2003, Zockoll purchased the remaining share holding in 2007.

As the UK's leading handyman service, there is a London based company owned operation as well as a recently launched franchise offering.

A man for all reasons^®

0800handyman.com
2008

In 2008, JTM Contracts (part of the Pacifica Group) based in Chester-Le-Street, was seeking a new exciting corporate identity and brand solution which would incorporate their move into franchising.

The company operates a repair and installation service on domestic appliances provided via their existing nationwide contractor network. Key elements from Zockoll included the franchise model, IP such as a seven foot screwdriver on top of the vans (Tool Tops®), and the phone name, all of which formed the foundations of the new brand. The 0800 REPAIR franchise launched in the Summer of 2009 and has plans for 150 franchisees over the next five years.

locally owned nationally known

0800repair.com
A division of The Zockoll Group.
2009

Have you ever wanted a jaw dropping vehicle design for your company that is talked about by all who see it?

Tool Tops® are readily seen and novel in their approach, acting as a catalyst to propel your brand to new levels. Aimed at the service industry, Tool Tops® provide a natural link between what you do and your service description in a simple, concise and memorable way.

There are many exclusive designs from which to choose.

Driving the brand™

tooltops.com

2010

Designed for the home emergency multi service market, 247 999 has all the hallmarks of a memorable and recognisable brand.
The concept was acquired by HomeServe Membership Limited in 2010.

Around the clock. Around to you^™

247999.com
A division of The Zockoll Group.
2011

One could ask if we are serious, but in the same breath might also say what a bold and memorable statement we are making.

You have geeks, guys and nerds (with all the various permutations) so why not Weirdos? Incredibly endearing, weirdos tackle all those unexpected weird and wonderful things that can happen to a computer or it’s peripherals.

weirdos.co.uk
2011

Founded in 2004 and operating through a network of trade skilled contractors, Aspect Maintenance quickly grew and today is recognized as London’s premier business in the delivery of all types of property repair and maintenance work.

Part of the franchising plan also saw Zockoll propose a radical change to the corporate identity of the business through the introduction of the brand ‘Aspect.co.uk – One Call Property Care’. This branding solution was also supported by the Phone Name 0800 ONE CALL, which was incorporated into the brand to add a niche to the franchise offering, but even more importantly to be used as a unique marketing tool.

aspect.co.uk
2011

0800 TAXICAB provides London with a quick and easy way to get a cab. Our memorable phone number means you will never have to look for a taxi number again. Just dial 0800 and spell TAXICAB using the letters on the phone to be put through to your nearest taxi.

It's not just any old cab that picks you up; it's a black cab. The drivers have completed years of 'knowledge' training as professionals and are recognised as the 'best in the world'.

THERE AND BLACK ™

0800taxicab.com

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