Second place went to Dorset-based Clive Coldwell and Anglela Lowe, who posted an annual turnover of more than £800,000. The bronze award went to lon-established franchisees, Chris and Paula Hann from Lincoln, who finished 2013 with £700,000 of sales in what was their 10th year of trading.
The annual conference is also a chance for new franchisees from across the country to be welcomed into the brand. This was also a good time to celebrate new showrooms being opened up and down the country.
Franchisee, Roy Easthope from Croydon, there with wife and business partner, Lorna, said: “That was the best Conference to date. It was great to meet up with everyone again and share our experiences. It was encouraging to see so many new faces as well.”
Susan de Mey, who launched Dream Doors' most southerly branch last year, travelled all the way from Cornwall. “It was a really informative day with so much great content. But that's what I've now come to expect from Dream Doors.”
Lesley Wallace, who just 12 months ago was enjoying her first Dream Doors Annual Conference, celebrates selling more than half-a-million pounds of kitchen makeovers in her first year of trading. Such has been the success of the Dream Doors Newbury and Basingstoke franchise that husband, Adrian, has since scaled back in his engineering work to become a more active partner in their business. And, at the 2013’s Annual Conference, the couple won the coveted ‘Player’s Player’ Award.
“That was a very proud moment for us,” said Adrian. “We had no inkling that we were going to win anything, nor did we have any expectations. We were quite taken aback by it.”
The 'Player's Player' Award is presented to the franchise that has given the most back to the brand. The Wallaces were recognised for the support they give to their fellow franchisees and, in particular, all the new starters who shadow the couple in their showroom and out on appointments.
“Lesley and Adrian were very generous with their time when we were starting out,” said Maidstone franchisee, Stuart Hewitt. “They definitely helped Lisa and I make the right decisions when planning our own launch.”
Kevin Byrne, Managing Director of the well-known independent monitoring scheme, handed out the final trophy of the night, Check-a-trade’s ‘Franchisee of the Year’. Awarded to the branch with the highest scores for customer service, the Check-a-trade trophy went to Clive Coldwell and Angela Lowe of Dream Doors Poole.
“Achieving second place in the Dream Doors turnover rankings behind Elaine and Mike was some achievement,” said Clive. “But this is the award we'll cherish the most. In effect, the public votes for the Check-a-trade award. And it shows what a great service we deliver, no matter how many sales we make.”
Published: 28 January 2014
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