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Franchise New Zealand Winter 2025 Year 34 Issue 02
Studio brand too, “My background in design and sales helped, but all
you really need is the desire to make a positive difference to how your
clients live and to surround yourself with good people.”
Automatic shareholding for franchisees in the franchisor company is a
unique and financially rewarding benefit that Marianne says shouldn’t
be overlooked. “This gives us direct access to Board directors to share
ideas and voice any concerns we may have. The more successful
franchisees are, the bigger our dividends.”
Investment in an exclusive territory
starts from around $150,000, with
access to additional capital required
for premises, showroom fit out and
start-up capital, although Kitchen
Studio’s 40+ year reputation helps with
obtaining finance.
Kitchen Studio’s CEO Dawn Engelbrecht
says, “The time’s never been better for
an individual, couple or partnership to
answer their own ‘What’s next? – so
call me now to find out more.”
n the early 2000’s fashion designer
Marianne Boonen was asking
herself, ‘What’s next?’ Then in 2003,
Marianne took her design talents
into an entirely different industry, as
she and her partner George Clarke
became Kitchen Studio’s
Tauranga franchisees.
“I knew I could grow into designing
kitchens but fast-tracked my skills
by gaining the National Kitchen
and Bathroom Association (NKBA)
NZ Diploma in Kitchen Design.
We surrounded ourselves with a
wonderful team to call on – designers
and all the trades it takes to
seamlessly deliver bespoke kitchens.”
After over a decade in business together, tragedy struck. In his 60’s and
a smoker, George lost his life to lung cancer.
Looking for a fresh start
Marianne plunged herself into her work, “After George died, I started
looking for a fresh start. I bought the Kitchen Studio Hamilton business
in 2017, when the previous franchisees retired after 22 years. For the next
few years, I ran both the Tauranga and Hamilton franchises, splitting my
time between a Mt Maunganui townhouse and accommodation I built
above the Hamilton showroom.
“Coincidentally, 2017 was the first year Kitchen Studio was voted New
Zealand’s most trusted kitchen brand in the Readers Digest awards.
Kitchen Studio has since held this title nine years in a row – it’s a powerful
marketing tool for us franchisees. And yes, clients do trust us, often
coming back time and time again. I’m sure our Total Trust Guarantee, a 10-
year transferable warranty on all kitchens, reinforces this trust.”
A real surprise
Life moved on for Marianne, “In 2022 I sold the Tauranga franchise to
focus on Hamilton, purchasing a lifestyle block on the city outskirts. This
year, at the annual Kitchen Studio Conference and Gala Awards, I was
named 2025 Kitchen Studio Franchisee of the Year.
“This was a real surprise, as bigger city franchisees usually win this
honour rather than medium-size businesses like ours. It’s great for my
team and other more modestly sized franchises to know that by doing
the small stuff well, we can achieve great things.
“The Kitchen Studio brand is well known and trusted, but I feel that what
isn’t as well known is just how much we can do. All our kitchens are
bespoke. We visit clients’ homes to get a true feeling for what they want.
We create the design, then project manage all the way to a ready-to-
enjoy kitchen – overseeing cabinetry manufacture and organising and
coordinating up to a dozen tradies. Finally, we quality audit the finished
kitchen installation.”
Renovations. Renovations. Renovations
Marianne describes Kitchen Studio Hamilton’s core business as
‘renovations, renovations, renovations,’ explaining that most of their
current work is coming from older housing suburbs, attracting young
first-home buyers to homes whose kitchens need replacing.
Looking to the future, Marianne is considering opening a satellite store
in her area, but she encourages new franchisees to join the Kitchen
Kitchen Studio
www.kitchenstudio.co.nz
Contact
Dawn Engelbrecht
027 291 9904
dawn@kitchenstudio.co.nz
Advertiser Info
Dawn Engelbrecht
and Marianne Boonen
Opportunity: Retail
WHAT’S
NEXT?
Former fashion designer wins
Kitchen Studio’s 2025 Franchisee
of the Year award.
CONTACT DAWN TO LEARN MORE
Dawn Engelbrecht 027 291 9904
kitchenstudio.co.nz/franchise-opportunities
Join the Kitchen Studio Team and take advantage
of 40 years of expertise, national marketing
support, a strong supplier network and
comprehensive training every step of the way.
We don’t just design stunning
kitchens — we empower driven
individuals like you to turn their
ambition into a profitable,
fulfilling business.
TERRITORIES AVAILABLE IN
— WHANGAREI
— QUEENSTOWN
— INVERCARGILL
— SOUTH CANTERBURY
— WELLINGTON NORTH
— KAPITI COAST
ARE YOU
READY TO TAKE
CONTROL AND
BUILD YOUR
FUTURE?
INVESTMENT FROM
$150,000 PLUS
SETUP COSTS