Calendar Club is Australia’s largest and most successful pop-up retailer ever. Since 1995 we have opened 4,000 pop-up stores and we will open another 150 this year.
We have been around for over 25 years and aren’t going anywhere! We sell calendars and we sell a lot of them. You may have seen our specialist calendar stores in shopping centres at Christmas. You may even have been a customer. We live by the ethos of delighting our customers and giving them the best selection of calendars in the known universe.
Why we need you
We need people, just like you, to operate our stores. We are seeking individuals who are driven to earn extra $$$ while providing great customer experiences. You are enthusiastic and highly organised. You are hardworking, a go-getter who thrives to succeed in a retail environment. Whatever your background is, this is an opportunity for you to earn extra income in a short period of time.
What we do for you
Low Capital Investment
Setting up a business usually requires capital to purchase point of sale equipment, fixture fittings and stock. Calendar Club provides everything you need to run a professional pop-up store including stock, fixtures, professional display and all electronic equipment.
Stock Range Provided
One of the main questions with running a business is finding products that appeal to the public and will sell. Calendar Club has the buying power to offer “the best selection of calendars in the known universe” to our customers.
Great Location in Major Shopping Centre
We provide a great location in a major shopping centre and pay the rent.
Operational Guidelines Based on Previous Experience and Results
With any pop-up store, there is requirement to set up in a very short time-frame in order to be ready to trade. Once it’s trading, there are operational requirements from the shopping centre that need to be adhered to. We provide all guidelines that give you the best chance for success.
Ongoing Support
Each Licensee will be allocated a Sales Manager who will provide ongoing support for your store via telephone, internet and with store visits in metropolitan areas. The Calendar Club team also provides support via email, telephone and online resources. Calendar Club is there to support you every step of the way.
Ultimately if you do well then we do well. We work really hard with you to give you every chance of success.
What you need to do
Manage Your Team
You need help to run your store. The store needs to trade according to the shopping centre hours and you need to keep it staffed. You need a small team that you can rely on when you need them.
Communication of clear tasks and expectations will also help you get the best outcomes. Having a small team of committed people to support you is a key input to running your store.
Follow All The Guidelines and Earn Excellent Income
“Running your own store is a challenging journey but very rewarding”*. If you follow all the guidelines provided to you, you give yourself every chance to do well financially. Stores typically earn $1,600-$2,000 per week across the season.
Investment
This opportunity doesn’t cost you anything. However, a $1,000 refundable security deposit is required to secure your store.
*Quoted by Helen Blackshaw, Store Licensee at Erina Fair Shopping Centre, NSW
What our previous licencees have to say
“Great opportunity with great results if you work hard and follow all the guidelines. In all stores we ran, we either reached or exceeded the budget. Our stores are always super clean and we always have excess stock in the store. We maintain the store with high standards. Continue the great program and we are keen to work together for great result for both parties.”
Srivalli, studying Master’s Degree at Deakin University (Store Licensee at Knox City Shopping Centre, Forest Hill Shopping Centre, Greensborough Plaza, VIC)
“As a full-time Uni student, running a Calendar Club store was a perfect way to earn extra income and learn about business while on my Christmas break. I had all the support I needed from family and Calendar Club, and all the stock and tools to run a successful business. Sure, the hours were long, but the rewards were well worth it!”
Elle Kyritsis, studying Occupational Therapy at Australian Catholic University (Store Licensee at Pacific Werribee, VIC)
“It is an opportunity with excellent rewards particularly if you are prepared to put in the work. It prepares you for any further opportunity in the future as it enables you to report and execute daily requirements and responsibilities with support from Head Office and the State Manager.”
Anthony Dementis, Café Owner (Store Licensee at West Lakes Shopping Centre, SA)
“I have been very goal driven and Calendar Club has provided me with the end result that I have needed. My husband has his own business that I occasionally help with, however Calendar Club is my own venture. I have the same staff year on year, which I feel adds a great dimension to running the business, as we know all our customers. This is not an easy work but for those with good ethic and are driven it is fulfilling!”
Sandra Salter (Store Licensee at Castle Tower Shopping Centre, NSW)
So…Is this right for you?
Since 1995 we have opened and traded over 4,000 pop-up stores.
This makes us the largest and most enduring pop-up retailer ever in Australia and New Zealand! We know what we are doing. Join us and we will support you in your time with us.
You don’t need retail experience, but you must be prepared to learn, be able to interact with customers and be willing to work hard. You will need a small team to help you set-up and run your store, some storage for back-up stock and commitment to do your very best at all times. The retail hours are long over the Christmas period but the rewards are there for the right people.
Some other key facts are that you are not an employee of Calendar Club so you will need an ABN (it’s easy to set up) and will need to provide a refundable and small security deposit to secure your store.
If you are interested in this opportunity click the “Want to Apply” button and we will get in touch with you to discuss this opportunity more.
That’s how things work in a nutshell.
For further information the FAQs below will shed even more light on what we do and what it’s like to run your own Calendar Club store.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the opening and closing dates of my store?
Generally the earliest store opening date is the third week of October and stores will continue to open until mid/late November. At the time of interview, you will be advised of the likely opening date of your store.
Stores will progressively close from the first week of January until the end of January. The exact store closing dates are not known until just before Christmas (as we review our total store stock position), at which time you will be advised by Calendar Club Head Office. Stores will close by mid-January but you do need to be in a position to keep your store open until late January, if requested.
Why do I have to provide a security bond? When is it payable? And when do I get it back?
The Security Deposit is payable for two reasons. Firstly, this is your way of securing your store. By providing your Security Deposit you confirm that you are serious about operating a Calendar Club Store, and that you are committed for the calendar season. Secondly, Calendar Club will be sending you stock, store fixtures and POS machines, which have a value in excess of $100,000. The Security Deposit is a relatively small way in which we can ensure our assets are taken care of properly.
The Security Deposit is payable at the time of signing your Store Licensee Agreement and must accompany your signed agreement. The Security Deposit is refundable to you at the end of the calendar season, subject to satisfactory store reconciliation, generally no later than February.
The security bond for one store is $1,000 and $1,500 for two stores
Do I need an ABN? (Australian Business Number – Australian stores only)
Yes, as an independent contractor of Calendar Club (i.e. not an employee) you will need to provide us with an ABN. This is a simple process and can be obtained online via the Australian Tax Office, free of charge, and is provided to you instantly.
Refer to Australian Business Registry website for more information. https://www.abr.gov.au/business-super-funds-charities/applying-abn
Without an ABN, we are required by law to deduct 48.5% from your commission payments.
Do I have to pay GST?
Calendar Club collects GST as part of the revenue generated from calendar sales. We then pay you commission based on these sales. You will need to advise us whether or not to add GST to your commission payments. Historically, most of our Store Licensees are not liable for GST, but this is an individual circumstance and we suggest you seek advice from either the Australian or New Zealand Tax Office or your accountant. In either case the process is relatively simple.
What if there is a major theft at my store? Does Calendar Club have insurance that covers my loss?
Calendar Club has a detailed Incident Reporting procedure to allow us to properly investigate situations like this. The short answer is that as long as you have not been shown to be negligent Calendar Club will generally cover these types of losses. This is a case by case situation. Shoplifting is a different matter and is solely your responsibility.
I understand that I am responsible for stock shrinkage. How is this calculated?
Shrinkage refers to stock sent to your store that can no longer be accounted for. This can occur in many ways, including incorrect receiving of stock at the store, incorrect stock transfers as you close the store and shop lifting or theft. Throughout the season we have procedures in place which if followed will minimise this stock loss.
At the end of the season Calendar Club will calculate the amount of shrinkage for a given store. Licensees who follow Calendar Club’s recommendations correctly generally find they have low shrinkage.
Why are there recoverable costs in the store licensee agreement?
Calendar Club has invested a lot of time and money into the success of its retail program. The season is a short one and we need to ensure that we do all that we can to achieve the maximum economic return for our efforts/investment. The recoverable costs are in place to ensure compliance to basic operational standards such as opening your store on time, banking daily, dressing appropriately, and follow our administration processes. These basic tasks need to be done every day to ensure the continued viability of Calendar Club.
Running a Calendar Club store is not difficult and if you follow guidelines outlined by Calendar Club, you will generally have few if any problems. Most Store Licensees comply with these simple requirements and the stores that don’t will be warned and/or fined.
Does Calendar Club have public liability insurance?
Yes, our coverage is $20,000,000. Our public liability insurance provides coverage for members of the general public who may be injured in any way by something to do with the operations of Calendar Club.
I have never worked in retail before. Does Calendar Club provide training courses? Who pays for this?
Calendar Club provides training material and support that will help you understand our simple retail model. We have on the ground support (state-based coordinators), comprehensive manuals and Internet links. Our office “Calendar Central” in Melbourne also provides phone support.
You will also be required to attend either a refresher or new training session in a venue nominated by Calendar Club. Where this training involves travel to Melbourne or to a state other than your own state, Calendar Club will refund your reasonable flight costs – more details are included in your Store Licensee Agreement. You will need to pay for your overnight hotel accommodation and any expenses outside of conference hours.
Why do I need access to the internet and email?
Calendar Club will send you regular information, respond to any questions etc and we will generally do this by email. This is the fastest and most cost-effective method to communicate. You will need access to a computer and a printer on a regular basis. Calendar Club will set up an email account for you free of charge, which you will need to use for the season. This email address and password will generally be provided to you in September or October.
How many staff do I need? Where do I find staff? And who pays staff?
The size and sales budget of your store will normally determine the number of staff you will need. A store with a high sales budget will generally require more staff, as you will have more customers to deal with and more stock to handle. As shopping centres trade seven days a week, plus late nights you will need some help. This does not mean that you will have four to six people working in your store at the same time – you won’t. Most of the time one person will be sufficient but to cover all the hours that a shopping centre trades you will need some help from time to time. During the Christmas period there is a large pool of people seeking work. Students, family members, friends, basically anyone can be trained to be an effective sales assistant. Placing a small advertisement in the local newspaper or on the student board at the local university or TAFE (AUS) or Polytechnic (NZ) will bring big results.
Payment of staff wages is your responsibility. Most Store Licensees pay their staff weekly to coincide with their weekly commission payment. You will also need to check your requirement to pay superannuation (AU only) and work care in your particular state. Calendar Club provides you with a full staffing kit, as part of its Store Operations Manual, which covers most of your detailed staffing questions.
What hours do I have to work?
Your Calendar Club store needs to be open every hour that the shopping centre is open. As mentioned in the previous question/answer, you need to have sufficient staff (including yourself) to ensure this occurs. Generally, Store Licensees will make a commitment of between 40 and 50 hours per week themselves, with sufficient good staff to cover other times. However, there are no hard and fast rules.
What do I wear while at the store?
Calendar Club has an approved dress standard, which is published in the Store Licensee Resources Manual. In general terms you (and your staff) need to be well groomed, wear clean pressed clothes including the apron which is supplied by Calendar Club.
How and when do I get paid?
Commissions are paid weekly in arrears, directly into your nominated bank account.
How do I secure my kiosk at night?
Calendar Club will provide you with an overnight cover, which you will use to cover your kiosk at night. There are several versions of the cover, and you need to ensure you apply it correctly. It affords reasonable protection. Generally shopping centres are closed after 6pm (with the exception of the supermarkets and any late night trading). In most cases, security guards patrol the shopping centres after hours.
Do I need a vehicle?
A car is essential, due to the need to move stock and other items to and from your store.