Cleaning feature
Poppies Cleaning Service Rob Piper
Dusting off after redundancy to build a business that shines... After being made redundant
from a 20-year career, Rob Piper was determined to turn things around. He craved more security and the chance to put his skills to good use. In 2011, Poppies Liverpool was born. “Poppies has given me a level of
freedom that I could never have achieved in an employed role. It was a revelation to escape some of the trappings of the corporate world. Poppies has allowed me to have autonomy with the comfort of a proven model to follow. I’m a people person and Poppies is a relationship business – that’s one of the many reasons why it’s been so rewarding for me.” Rob was already familiar with the
concept of franchising, and so, after his redundancy, he began to consider becoming his own boss – a sure-fi re way to never again face that same threat! What Rob wanted, was a chance to utilise his existing skills – communication, customer service, staff recruitment and leadership – to build a scalable business that offered personal satisfaction and fi nancial rewards. In Poppies, he found just that. “Being made redundant is like having
the rug pulled out from under your feet. I was lucky in that, instead of leaving immediately, I was asked to stay on for a couple of months and that gave me the time to research my next move. I could really see the benefi t of a franchise; systems and processes would be in place, training is given, and you’re supported from day one. These were key selling points of Poppies for me – that and being able to make a difference in other people’s lives.” Established in 1980, Poppies was the
UK’s fi rst domestic cleaning franchise. Franchisees manage a team of dedicated cleaners who visit clients’ homes and provide a range of top-quality services.
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The brand’s 22-strong network provides high-quality cleaning to over 6,000 homes. Generating an impressive combined turnover of £5million-plus, Poppies offers an exciting opportunity for prospective franchisees to capitalise on an industry worth £4.7billion. As well as an offi cial training week
with Poppies founder, Sue Rorstad, Rob spent time in the Ormskirk offi ce with now-franchisor, Chris Wootton. Alongside his training, Rob dedicated himself to raising awareness of his new business through local leafl et campaigns and networking. Within a week, he had secured his fi rst client. “The time with Chris was extremely
benefi cial. I’m a practical, hands-on person and I learn best by doing, so being able to go on cleans, observe and conduct inspections and learn about the procedures and policies was invaluable. To receive one-to-one training from Chris, who had successfully run his franchise for
many years at the time, was amazing.” Almost a decade after his launch,
Rob’s client base now exceeds 200 local households and businesses. Poppies Liverpool employs 26 cleaners and delivers nearly 1,600 hours of cleaning every month. Rob is now looking forward to the future and plans to take a step back. “I have an elderly mother who I would
like to dedicate more time to and I want to be able to enjoy the fruits of my labour. The freedom that Poppies has given me has been life changing. I’m looking forward to having more time for myself and my loved ones and enjoying my passion for travel and winter sports! “I would recommend Poppies to
anyone. The abundance of expertise, commitment and devotion in the brand and the network is enough to put anyone’s mind at rest about investing. It’s such a rewarding business and I love being able to make a difference in people’s lives.”
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