Rik Hellewell: “Our franchisees have never been busier, despite the challenges presented by coronavirus”
Ovenu is defying the pandemic doom-mongers, having recruited five new franchisees and created three new subcontractor jobs in recent weeks as demand for its oven cleaning service continues to grow.
Founder and managing director Rik Hellewell, says: “Our franchisees have never been busier, despite the challenges presented by coronavirus.
“I know many businesses are in a much less fortunate position and, to a large extent, their hands are tied because of the restrictions.
“While we’re definitely benefiting from people spending more time at home cooking and baking, Ovenu was able to break through that initial reluctance by some to invite tradespeople back into their homes.”
Rik used the period following the first lockdown - when Ovenu franchisees mothballed their businesses for around two months - to draw up robust COVID secure policies and procedures designed to instil clients with confidence.
During the past 10 weeks, Ovenu has welcomed five new franchisees in North Derby, Newton Abbot, York, South Oxon and Grantham. Two have started in new territories, while the others replaced franchisees who retired some months ago.
Each one was able to return home from their week-long induction at Ovenu’s Wokingham training centre to a healthy order book.
In the south of England Tom Mungall of Ovenu South Oxon had two weeks’ worth of appointments already confirmed and in the north of England John Duggleby of Ovenu York secured over 30 bookings by the end of his first trading week.
In addition, three established franchisees in Cambridge, Cardiff and Lytham have each taken on a subcontractor to help them cope with a rise in demand.
“Fortunately for us, some of the dire economic forecasts have failed to materialise, most importantly the collapse of the property market,” Rik says. “I’m relieved to find many of the doom-mongers were proved wrong.”
The continued healthy state of both property sales and lettings has provided Ovenu with valuable income. Since June almost every other booking has concerned a home move.
“I’ve traded through economic turndowns, but I’ve never faced anything like this,” Rik says.
“However, our success is based on ongoing communication with our franchisees and clients and the fact we have a unique training facility and an unshakeable belief in our product and procedures.
“We have had a flood of enquiries from people wanting to become franchisees - all of whom I meet personally to ensure they’re committed and possess the right qualities.”
Several of Ovenu’s latest franchisees made successful applications for a government start-up loan to cover the cost of investing in the franchise, a process made easier by the company helping to draw up a business plan and create profit forecasts.
“Some of our franchisees are doing so well that if they decided not to take any earnings from the business they would be in a position to repay the start-up loan in a matter of months,” Rik says.
“Business is booming and that success is not just down to providence, but a great deal of foresight, planning and investment. It’s proof positive that the franchise system works, even in the most challenging of times.”