Getting to know Clark Rubber
- As one of the LFRA’s newest Retail Members, who is Clark Rubber and what products and services do you offer?
Clark Rubber is thrilled to join the LFRA! We are a large format retailer with a proud 75-year history, 57 locations and a presence in all states.
Clark Rubber carries a complete range of pools, spas, pool equipment and chemicals, pool and backyard accessories, water toys, mattresses, foam products, and of course, a huge range of rubber products and extrusions.
We also offer specialist on-site pool and spa servicing and water testing – creating a one-stop destination for pool and spa owners.
With our uniquely broad range of products, our customer base is equally diverse, with Clark Rubber stores servicing families, trades, renovators, hobbyists and enthusiasts, to name but a few.
- Congratulations on your 75th anniversary. Can you tell us how you are celebrating, including the recently announced $30,000 discount on the franchise entry fee?
We could not be more proud of our 75-year history in Australian retailing.
Clark Rubber has served generations of Aussies over the decades, and countless families have swum in our pools, slept on our mattresses, and used our wide range of foam and rubber products.
As part of our celebrations we have launched a $30,000 discount off the franchise entry fee for our ‘Premium Territory’ Pool & Spa mobile service vans, paving the way for more Aussies to get into their own business and take control of their career.
This incentive has been announced to help accelerate our network development plan as we look to put at least 30 new mobile service vans on the road this financial year.
All ‘Premium’ service van territories include over 2000 residential pools, with new operators supported by a market-leading on boarding program, and ongoing operational/marketing support to ensure success.
- Clark Rubber has an ambitious store expansion plan. What does this look like?
A key facet of Clark Rubber’s growth strategy is a doubling of our large-format store network over the next five years with the aim of achieving a national footprint of 120 locations.
In addition to this, we’re actively pursuing expansion into smaller-footprint Pool & Spa stores and Pool & Spa mobile service van franchises, catering specifically to this hugely important growth market.
These smaller-footprint stores and service vans will complement the large-format network, and offer customers a ‘local’ and on-site solution for pools and spas, equipment, and pool care.
- How can LFRA Members collaborate with Clark Rubber?
As Clark Rubber aims to double its large-format retail footprint and pursue active growth in new brick & mortar franchising models, collaboration with LFRA members will encompass all facets of retail, development and planning.
From finding compatible Large Format Retail premises, to site development, planning and zoning and tenanting, collaboration with LFRA members will uncover opportunities, and help to ensure all new potential Clark Rubber sites into the future are appropriately designed, built and leased to provide long term success.
And finally, what can we expect from Clark Rubber in coming months?
The coming 12 months+ will be an incredibly exciting period for the Clark Rubber brand, with virtually every corner of the business going through a period of growth, revitalisation, and development.
One hugely important step is our move to an exciting new head office in Hawthorn, Melbourne.
Keep an eye out for improvement and new initiatives across almost every touch point including marketing and brand, customer communications, our store layouts particularly around the pool and spa category, exciting new product, an improved online customer/shopping experience, and of course, the rollout of new locations as our ambitious network expansion plans really start to ramp up.
