Market Focus
OvenU Paul Clark
Although Paul enjoyed his previous job in social care, he was looking for a change of direction and wanted to run his own business. Paul was sold on Ovenu in 2007 after enquiring and then meeting with Rik Hellewell, Ovenu’s managing director.
What training and support did you receive initially, and is it ongoing? Those initial couple of days were fantastic; I was given plenty of information, walked through the processes and was given hands-on experience. The managing director, Rik Hellewell was really down to earth, we even chatted into the early hours of the morning and he alleviated any concerns I had. Every franchisee receives regular updates and ongoing marketing support, which is crucial in getting your business up and running, as well as social media training, which has become more important in recent times. Also, I know I can pick up the phone at any time to call head office and they will be there to support me.
“Be prepared to work hard. Take advice from those with experience and you can’t fail”
What is a typical day for you as a franchisee?
I start the day at 6.30am, making sure the van is prepared and all my equipment and uniform is clean and tidy. My first appointment is usually at 8.00am, so I ensure that I am at the client’s home for then. Usually, I complete three appointments a day, so in between these
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I will check my emails and make phone calls. After my final appointment, I head back home and ensure that all my paperwork and admin is in order before having downtime with the family.
What challenges have you faced? My first year was always going to be a challenge as it was new to me, but more so because it was at the start of the recession. I was also leaving behind a good career with excellent benefits, so there was always a risk.
However, Rik and head office were brilliant and helped a lot in positioning my business in my area with marketing and advertising support. Putting in the groundwork and getting the systems in place at the start was very time-consuming and a lot of hard work, but it has paid
dividends. Expanding the business with my wife Andrea was challenging, but I haven’t faced any real problems during my time in business.
In your opinion, what makes a successful franchisee? Be prepared to work hard. Take advice from those with experience and you can’t fail. Our annual general meeting is a great way to network with other franchisees and draw on their experiences and tailor your methods going forward.
Would you recommend a cleaning franchise to others? Yes. Domestic cleaning, in particular, is a growing market and something that more and more consumers don’t really have the time to do themselves anymore.
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