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franchise.co.nz – PUTTING PEOPLE IN BUSINESS
“If you do a blooming good job, they appreciate it,” says long-standing
V.I.P. cleaning franchisee Yvonne Tremayne. “My hubby Robert and I
have learned a great deal since we emigrated here from England, and
through cleaning with V.I.P. I feel I’ve learned much more about the Kiwi
way of life.”
Yvonne, Robert and their three children moved to New Zealand in
January 2008. They arrived in a heatwave. “It was a bit different from
England,” Yvonne laughs. “I’d been a team leader with the bespoke
cleaning company Supermaids. I’d also worked with Marks and Spencer,
so I had a good idea of quality expectations.
“After buying a block of land on the Āwhitu Peninsula, we became
growers for a short time – chillies, courgettes, kaffir lime leaves and
lemongrass. This was so good that we even got on the national news for
producing the best lemongrass in the country, which we sold to many
restaurants and other outlets. However, it was actually flipping hard
work! In 2012, I saw the advertisement for V.I.P. Home Services.”
Tempting proposition
With her background in cleaning, and with Robert’s encouragement,
Yvonne scoped the V.I.P. opportunity out. “I just thought I’d really like
to have my own business,” she recalls. “It seemed V.I.P. had a really
good system and, from my first meeting with John and Estelle, I had
the right feelings about the company. They were both very relaxed over
coffee, and excellent at answering all the questions I’d forgotten to ask! I
quickly realised they like to run the business as a family. My only regret,
12 years on, is that I don’t get to spend more time with them.”
Yvonne found her bank amenable to a small loan and, after checking
with legal and accounting firms, she decided to go ahead. One of those
advisors even became a long-standing client of hers. “I started the
business with my daughter, Ruby,” explains Yvonne. “She worked with
me for five years before becoming an accountant.”
People, people
“John and Estelle gave both of us invaluable extra training at their own
home,” raves Yvonne. “I can’t imagine many other franchisors doing
that! I knew I’d picked the right franchise and the right people from that
moment. They went out of their way to be helpful to us, as they have
been ever since.”
Estelle and John Logan are V.I.P. Home Service’s national franchisors
for New Zealand. “We are always keen to welcome people from any
background into our V.I.P. family. Yvonne had a head start with her
cleaning experience in the UK, which was at the same kind of high
standards that we and our franchisees aspire to.
“Yvonne exudes the qualities of honesty and hard work that we maintain
in our business. These qualities are vital for our franchisees, who are
being trusted to go into people’s homes. We are quite fussy about who
we appoint but those we select soon discover they’ll never be short of
work or flexibility.”
Unusually for someone starting a small business, Yvonne says she
didn’t find the experience daunting. She says, “I just found Estelle and
John so friendly, and I’ve always worked hard in life, so this was no
different in the beginning,” she says.
Learnings and earnings
“Stick with the plan,” is her main advice. “You can’t go wrong with V.I.P.
There has always been support whenever I’ve needed it. John and Estelle
have always been there for me – even when someone crashed into my
car! I then had to get a new one sign written.”
And the biggest challenge? “The biggest challenge I had was getting
to know my customers and proving myself to them,” Yvonne says.
“You can’t always please everybody, all the time. Some people expect
miracles. However, the customer is always right! So, I’ve always just
done my best. V.I.P. has given me a wonderful customer base and so
many great leads over the years.”
What has been the key to running her business? “Reliability, consistency
– doing the job the client wants,” she says. “Some are fussier than
others! But above all, choosing the right franchise. V.I.P. have been
brilliant all along.
“John and Estelle deserve a bit of praise for all they have done for
hundreds of franchisees over the years. Estelle mentioned the flexibility
of the franchise, and that is a real bonus. As I’m getting a bit older, I
wanted to cut back a bit. So now I’m able to do just three days a week.
This gives me a bit more time at home with my husband, but also means
I’ve been able to keep my favourite customers.”
V.I.P. Home Services offers two different kinds of franchise: indoor
(all types of cleaning) and outdoor (lawnmowing, gardening and other
work.) “V.I.P. offers a very flexible system
that can be tailored to your needs,”
says Estelle. “Whether full or part-time,
a V.I.P. franchise is a solid long-term
investment that can give a great lifestyle
and above-average income. We are
currently seeking new franchisees
throughout the country, so why not give
me a call to learn more?”
V.I.P. Home Services
www.viphomeservices.co.nz
Contact
Nationwide Enquiries
0800 84 74 96
Estelle@viphomeservices.nz
Advertiser Info
FRIENDLY,
FLEXIBLE
RECRUITMENT
DONE RIGHT
Opportunity: Home Services
Coffee and informality are the V.I.P.
way into business investment.
Yvonne Tremayne is cleaning up in business