Poolwerx Hamilton Named Best Home Services Franchisee
One of Poolwerx's most decorated franchise partners has further enhanced its already glowing reputation by scooping up the award for Best Home Services Franchisee at the Westpac New Zealand Franchise Awards.
Having won the award several times previously, Poolwerx Hamilton, owned by Prue and David Kimber, received the award in recognition of another stellar year in which their business experienced sales growth of 16 percent.
Mrs Kimber said a focus on analysing and utilising business information to further improve company process and customer communication was integral to their sales increase.
“We really focused on what the data was telling us about what our customers wanted and valued, and the result was that we were able to increases our average transaction value by 12 percent, increase customer numbers by 22 percent and ultimately lift sales and profitability in an environment of strong competition,” she said.
“To win this award again is fantastic, as it recognises all the hard work that we put in over the year and justifies thinking outside the box.”
Mrs Kimber said expansion was on the horizon again, with plans well under way for the couples second retail store.
“When we opened our first store in Hot Springs Spas, we doubled our business and we are looking to do the same by opening a store in a mobile territory that currently has limited retail pool store competition.
“Opening a second retail site is a risk but after 12 years in business we are ready to take the franchise to the next level with multiple retail sites. Poolwerx provides the support we need to achieve this and by doing so we will reach our goal of becoming a multi-million-dollar business within the next two years.”
Poolwerx CEO and founder John O’Brien said the Kimber’s were a great example of how a franchise partner can grow from relatively modest beginnings to achieve great success.
“This award is once again richly deserved and is a tribute to Prue and David’s unwavering drive to be innovative and build their business year after year, no matter the economic or market conditions,” he said. “They are smart operators and the fact they have achieved growth every year for the past decade is testament to their natural business acumen and willingness to follow the franchise model.”
Poolwerx Hamilton has grown from a “one man in a van” business to a six-van operation, acquiring three territories along the way – Cambridge, Hamilton East and Hamilton West , servicing the wider Waikato region. At the end of 2014 they opened their first retail outlet in Hamilton, which is located within the Hot Springs Spas building on Te Rapa Road.
