Ovenu experiences 10 per cent increase in enquiries

The franchise attributes the increase to customers becoming interested in fixing their appliances rather than throwing them away

Oven cleaning franchise Ovenu has experienced a 10 per cent increase in telephone enquiries in the first half of January as clients increasingly adopt a ‘make do and mend’ attitude. Founder and managing director Rik Hellewell believes the figure highlights a growing trend among householders to restore the shine to their oven, rather than investing significant sums in buying a new appliance.

He says: “In these times of financial constraint, there is definitely a ‘make do and mend’ attitude, which is being reinforced by a general move away from a throw-away society. Telephone enquiries in early January are 10 per cent up compared with the same period last year, and this is being prompted by people wanting to avoid making any major financial outlays.

“The feedback I’ve received is that clients would rather spend money having their oven professionally valeted to extend its lifespan and improve its efficiency and performance. Previously, some householders would have gone out and bought a new cooker simply because their old one was in a state. However, they now realise that their current oven can be restored to a near showroom condition, which is also much kinder to the environment.”

Regular cleaning and the replacement of faulty parts can keep a cooker working for between 10 and 15 years, and in some cases much longer. A build-up of grease can quickly compromise crucial components, including door seals, switches, fans and temperature sensors, which in turn can affect the appliance’s performance and lead to higher energy costs. Regular cleaning also improves the taste of the food and reduces the risk of fire.

Rik adds: “The rise in telephone enquiries is from both current and new clients who realise the cost benefits of getting as many years of use as possible from their appliances, rather than needlessly scrapping them in favour of the latest model.

“The fact that more people are picking up the phone did take us a little by surprise, but it also reflects the new mindset of reducing waste and becoming a more sustainable society.”

The Ovenu process involves dismantling key components such as the door, interior panels, fan, and shelves and placing them in design-registered tank equipment, which uses safe, non-caustic and biodegradable products to clean the oven parts. The whole process leaves the oven in a near showroom condition.