Fantastic Four from Guildford join Drain Doctor team

Gordon ‘Don’ Todd has teamed up with his three sons to take on the Guildford and Basingstoke franchise business of Drain Doctor Plumbing Ltd

Gordon ‘Don’ Todd and his three sons, Gordon junior, Frankie and Charlie, have teamed up to take on the Guildford and Basingstoke franchise business of Drain Doctor Plumbing.

Gordon and his sons have been trading as a construction company and are now concentrating on plumbing and drainage. Don has been looking for a franchise business in plumbing and drainage for around 12 years. He said: “I looked at other franchise businesses. After I phoned Drain Doctor director Jan Mitman and realised all the help that is available I decided I didn’t need to look any further.”

The ‘Fantastic Four’ will now  run a business that provides emergency drainage and plumbing services to people throughout Guildford, Basingstoke and surrounding area. It will be a family affair, however. Don’s daughter Lauren will run the back office on a part time basis.

Don said: “I intend to expand the business significantly and make the franchise as big as possible. Within a reasonable space of time I hope to have a staff of qualified plumbers and drainage technicians on call in vans fully equipped to deal with most plumbing and drainage problems.”

The Todds have most experience in the domestic plumbing sector so they will be looking for Drain Doctor’s network of national accounts to help support the area and drive the commercial side of the business. Don plans start with two fully equipped vans.

“Drain Doctor has a proven system that offers a largely recession-proof opportunity where I can still be an independent operator running my own business but with all the back-up that comes with being part of a large national organisation,” said Gordon.

“I looked at other plumbing/drainage franchises but you don’t get the same support that you do with a Drain Doctor franchise.

“With some other franchises you are left on your own. Drain Doctor offers great contacts with insurance companies and has a national account network that will help me to develop and grow the business.”

Speed and efficiency will be the name of the game for drag racing fan Don and his Arsenal-supporting sons. He said: “I aim to give businesses and householders across my franchise areas the same ‘dazzling’ level of service which Drain Doctor provides across the rest of the country.

“Our customers get fixed-price, no obligation quotes, a complete guarantee on all our work, and a full 24 hour, seven days per week service with no call out charges – so people pay the same price for work at any time of day or night. What’s more, we turn up at the agreed time!”

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Drain Doctor Welcomes New Franchise Support Staffer

David Hartley joins the Drain Doctor team in a key franchise support role.

We would like to welcome David Hartley who has joined Drain Doctor Plumbing Ltd in a key franchise support role.

David has been working for sub contractors within the water industry since 1992. Until recently large water companies including United Utilities, Yorkshire Water and Severn Trent sub-contracted out their direct labour requirements. David worked for large sub contractors including Aquaforce to meet these needs.

His extensive experience has included project managing contracts for smaller civil water contracts such as jetting and CCTV surveys, contract labour management and work on green field construction sites setting out the roads and drainage systems.

As water authorities began taking back direct labour David began researching roles in private plumbing and drainage companies before securing the franchise support role at Drain Doctor.

He has over 21 years of experience in the technical aspects of drainage and will provide vital site support for new Drain Doctor franchisees.

David said: “I am looking forward to the challenges of this new role and sharing my knowledge with Drain Doctor Franchisees.”

Although based at Drain Doctor’s Peterborough head office David lives with his young family in Kirkby-in-Ashfield and is enjoying family life. However, as a keen golfer he is looking forward to spending more time on the golf course as his children grow up!

Commenting on his new role David added: “Drain Doctor has a proven system that offers a unique opportunity where franchisees can be independent operators running their own businesses. However, many are new to the industry and appreciate the confidence they get through the back-up that comes with being part of a large national organisation.

“My role will be to provide telephone and on-site technical support for new franchisees as they learn the Drain Doctor system and develop their skills. I aim to help our franchisees to give businesses and householders across their franchise areas ‘dazzling’ levels of service.”

Good luck David.

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Let’s hear it for the ladies

Drain Doctor Plumbing chairman Freddie Mitman (centre) presents John and Helen Rushforth with their Franchise of the Year award.

Female plumbers have it tough in an industry that is dominated by men. But if you think that’s the case in the UK take a look at this story from Egypt. Housewife Um Bassem battled against the odds to become the best-known plumber in her district of Cairo.

In the UK there are a number of female-only plumbing businesses. However, according to industry estimates there are around 160,000 plumbers in the UK of which only about one per cent are women.

According to consumer surveys householders are increasingly seeking female plumbers because they feel safer and more relaxed having them in their homes. These often include single women, the elderly and members of religious groups. It is perhaps time to encourage more women into the industry.

At Drain Doctor there are a number female franchisees out there who are doing a fantastic job running their businesses. We would like to hear from some of you about your experiences in the trade. We would also like to hear from any female technicians on the vans about what it’s like to be working in the trade.

Hopefully those experiences are positive ones that will help to encourage more women into the trade.

Take Einstein’s advice – be a plumber

English: Albert Einstein Français : Portrait d’Albert Einstein (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Back in 1954 in an interview with Reporter Albert Einstein said: “If I would be a young man again and had to decide how to make my living, I would not try to become a scientist or scholar or teacher. I would rather choose to be a plumber … in the hope to find that modest degree of independence still available under present circumstances.”

If he had become a plumber he wouldn’t have been internationally famous – but he would have beaten the economic slump. As recession continues, the economic experiences of the past few years have made increasing numbers of people seek a recession-resistant business opportunity.

The Drain Doctor system is delivering solid financial results for franchisees because, even in a recession, people with a plumbing emergency still need to call a plumber. Because of Drain Doctor’s reputation and levels of service, the plumber they call is increasingly likely to be the local Drain Doctor franchisee.

Starting your own business as a franchisee, rather than totally on your own, provides a considerable level of support and assistance if you choose the right franchise. Buying into a Drain Doctor franchise, which offers a largely recession-resistant business, provides further reassurance that if you are prepared to put in the work you can expect to gain real rewards.

Drain Doctor enables franchisees to be independent operators running their own businesses but with all the back-up that comes with being part of a large national organisation. With some other franchises you are left on your own. Drain Doctor offers great contacts with insurance companies and has a national account network that will help franchisees develop and grow their business.

Drain Doctor franchisees offer a full 24 hour per day seven-day per week service with no call out charges and they give fixed-price, no obligation quotes with a full guarantee on all their work.

Drain Doctor technicians are trained not just with technical skills – including the latest techniques such as closed circuit camera drain surveys and no-dig drain repairs – but in customer care that is reflected in such things as wearing overshoes while in customers’ homes and clearing up carefully after every job.

Recession busting Preston Drain Doctor’s double celebration

Drain Doctor Plumbing chairman Freddie Mitman (centre) presents Kevin and Dawn Preston with their award.

Preston-based Drain Doctor Plumbing, which covers the town and surrounding areas, has crowned another successful year by being presented with an award for achieving high business growth at the national group’s annual awards ceremony.

Group founder and chairman Freddie Mitman said: “We rarely give out an award to someone who is not here to receive it but this year was an exception as Kevin and Dawn Preston are on a cruise to celebrate their 30th Wedding Anniversary.

“They have grown continuously since joining us 1994 and had another increase in 2011 over 2010. They have demonstrated over the years the strength of the Drain Doctor system in delighting customers with first-class plumbing and drainage services and they are continuing to reap the rewards. Winning this award is a testament to their success.

“Kevin and Dawn are among our longest-serving franchisees, joining just after Drain Doctor Plumbing was established in the UK. They are very much a part of the solid backbone of Drain Doctor Plumbing and the company wouldn’t be the same without them.”

The larger a franchisee’s turnover becomes the more difficult it is to sustain a high rate of annual growth. The High Base Growth Award recognises this situation. It is presented to franchisees who have achieved growth from a high base.

Starting from covering the Preston area, Kevin and Dawn Preston have expanded to also take on the Drain Doctor franchise for Blackburn. This has enabled them to expand their customer base and their turnover.

Kevin said: “There is no secret to our success – it is just a simple combination of a lot of hard work and dedication to the Drain Doctor Plumbing system. This has been proven to work time and time again. It gives customers real value for money and they can see that they are getting value for money.

“We have been able to take on another franchise area close to our Preston base and we now cover the Blackburn area. We are not just sitting congratulating ourselves on our success, though – we are aiming for continual improvement because we want to be absolutely the best company in this business.”

The central principle is to deliver dazzling levels of service in a market plagued by cowboy operators who are overcharging customers for shoddy workmanship.

Kevin said: “Customers recognise that we are an honest, hard-working company with principles. We are an exciting business concept that focuses strongly on providing exceptional standards of customer service with attention to detail.

“The award is recognition of the hard work the team has put in to provide people throughout our operational area with dazzling plumbing and drainage service. Drain Doctor Plumbing rewards dedication, enthusiasm and customer care and we are delighted to have picked up this award.”

Norwich Drain Doctor rewarded for ‘growing against the tide’

Jason and Debbie Hawkins receive their trophy from Drain Doctor Plumbing chairman Freddie Mitman (centre).

Jason Hawkins’ decision to launch his own Drain Doctor Plumbing business in Norwich has proved a winner after he – along with his wife Debbie – scooped an award for business growth at the national group’s annual awards ceremony.

The award is presented to franchisees who have achieved substantial growth for their business.

Group founder and chairman Freddie Mitman presented Jason and Debbie with their trophy at a gala awards night at the Crown Plaza Hotel in the historic Belgian city of Bruges.

Freddie Mitman said: “These awards all recognise special achievements in the franchise network. This year we recognised franchisees who had ‘Grown Against The Tide’ in 2011.

“The winners, like Jason and Debbie, all come from very different parts of the country proving that sustained growth does not favour certain areas or regions, it can happen anywhere that the franchisee ‘makes it happen’.

“Jason inspires trust and respect from his customers and staff and 2011 was another year of growth for this area.”

Jason and Debbie provide a wide range of plumbing and drainage repairs, including high-pressure jetting, ‘no-dig’ drain re-lining and closed circuit camera surveys. They have also launched a water treatment service and have been pioneering a viable and environmentally sound alternative to septic tanks.

The team more than achieved its target turnover during 2010 in spite of the recession. They continued to grow well in 2011, delivering a substantial increase in turnover, and now have plans for further growth in 2012.

Jason said: “Joining Drain Doctor Plumbing was most definitely the best thing I have done. We investigated several franchise options when we decided to launch a new business and were impressed by Drain Doctor Plumbing’s professionalism. It allows us to be our own bosses and introduce innovative new ideas but with all the support of a national organisation, a fact that is reflected in the winning of this award.”

Freddie Mitman added: “Jason and Debbie make a great team and have fully absorbed the Drain Doctor ethos of delivering exceptional standards of customer service.”

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Bedford Drain Doctor voted ‘Most Progressive’

Stuart (right) and Michele Brock receive their trophy from Drain Doctor chairman Mr Freddie Mitman.

Stuart Brock’s decision to launch his own Drain Doctor Plumbing business covering Bedford, Milton Keynes and the surrounding villages has proved a winner after he was named most progressive new franchisee at the national group’s annual awards ceremony.

Group founder and chairman Freddie Mitman presented Stuart and his wife Michele with their trophy at a gala awards night at the Crown Plaza Hotel in the historic Belgian city of Bruges.

The award is presented to the franchisee considered to have made outstanding progress during the first twelve months or less in the business.

Freddie Mitman said: “The winners of these awards often go on to be perennial award winners in other categories year after year. They are the future of our business.

“We recognised the potential of this year’s most progressive new franchisee winner when he came for his initial training. He has tremendous drive and enthusiasm and is building a strong and dynamic team within his own business.”

Stuart said: “Drain Doctor’s success in Bedford has come from offering local businesses and householders ‘dazzling’ levels of service in an industry that is plagued by ‘cowboy’ operators.”

Stuart launched his franchise in January 2011. He provides a wide range of plumbing and drainage repairs, including high-pressure jetting, ‘no-dig’ drain re-lining and closed circuit camera surveys.

Stuart and Michele more than achieved their target turnover during 2011 in spite of the recession and now have plans for further growth.

Positive word of mouth set the Brocks on their new business path. Stuart and Michele researched various franchise businesses for a while. They looked at the Drain Doctor model on the recommendation of close friend Martin Humphrey, who has run the Stevenage and Luton franchise since February 2010.

Stuart said. “Martin’s franchise and the Bedford and Milton Keynes franchise were originally parts of the same franchise area. Martin purchased his area when the franchisee was downsizing and he knew that he would be looking to sell the remaining part of his business in the future.

“Joining Drain Doctor Plumbing was most definitely the best thing I have done.”

Freddie Mitman said: “Stuart and his team have fully absorbed the Drain Doctor ethos of delivering exceptional standards of customer service.”

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Dundee Drain Doctor scoops national award

Trevor and Alison Muir collect their award from Freddie Mitman (centre).

The Dundee franchise business of Drain Doctor Plumbing, which covers the city and surrounding areas, has crowned another successful year by being presented with an award at the national group’s annual awards ceremony.

The award is given to franchisees who have generated outstanding turnover related to the population of the area they serve.

Group founder and chairman Freddie Mitman presented franchisee Trevor Muir with his trophy at a gala awards night at the Crown Plaza Hotel in the historic Belgian city of Bruges during Drain Doctor’s 18th annual convention.

Freddie Mitman said: “This award  recognises special achievements in the franchise network. Winning proves that sustained growth can be achieved despite size and that it’s the franchisee who ‘makes it happen’”.

Trevor has had his franchise since 2005. Since then he has grown the business to include a number of additional services including contract guttering replacement. In fact, it was a wholesale guttering replacement at Dundee FC’s Dens Park stadium that contributed to his growth in 2011.

The job was the franchise’s largest contract of this kind to date. Much of the guttering around the stands was brought down during heavy snow in February. Drain Doctor was called in to replace it. So much of it had come down that Trevor had to renew the whole guttering system.

Trevor said: “Guttering is just one of the services offered by Drain Doctor. I aim to continue to give businesses and householders in Dundee and the surrounding area the same ‘dazzling’ level of service in plumbing and drainage which Drain Doctor provides across the rest of the UK. Experience has taught me the importance of delivering a premium service on time every time and this has been borne out by this recognition.

“Joining Drain Doctor Plumbing was most definitely the best thing I have done. I investigated several franchise options when I decided to launch a new business and was impressed by Drain Doctor Plumbing’s professionalism. It allows me to be my own boss and introduce innovative new ideas but with all the support of a national organisation, a fact that is reflected in the winning of this award.”

Congratulations to Trevor and the team for a great year and best wishes for continued success.

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Cambridge Drain Doctor rewarded for sustained growth

Rob (right) and Sam with Freddie Mitman at the awards ceremony in Bruges.

Our decision to launch our Drain Doctor Plumbing business covering Cambridge has proved a double-winner. Last year we were named most progressive new franchise at the annual awards ceremony. This year we scooped a national award for sustained business growth.

Group founder and chairman Freddie Mitman presented myself and Sam with our trophy at a gala awards night at the Crown Plaza Hotel in the historic Belgian city of Bruges.

The larger a franchisee’s turnover becomes the more difficult it is to sustain a high rate of annual growth. The High Base Growth Award recognises this situation. It is presented to franchisees who have achieved growth from a high base.

Mr Mitman said: “These awards all recognise special achievements in the franchise network.

“This year’s High Base Growth award winner takes the Drain Doctor service ethic to new heights and has sometimes amazed his customers with his tenacity in getting the job done.

“A little over three years ago Rob and Sam purchased an already successful area. Driving it forwards they saw a significant increase in growth in 2011. They took on the challenging task of building on the success of what was one of Drain Doctor’s most successful franchises and was the first business in the Drain Doctor network to reach a £1 million annual turnover.”

Drain Doctor’s success in Cambridge has come from offering local businesses and householders ‘dazzling’ levels of service in an industry that is plagued by ‘cowboy’ operators.

We launched our franchise in November 2009 to provide a wide range of plumbing and drainage repairs, including high-pressure jetting, ‘no-dig’ drain re-lining and closed circuit camera surveys. We more than achieved our target turnover during 2011 in spite of the recession and now have plans for further growth in 2012.

Joining Drain Doctor Plumbing was most definitely the best thing I have done. I investigated other franchise options when we decided to launch a new business and was impressed by Drain Doctor Plumbing’s professionalism. I plan to continue to grow the business in a controlled and sustained way but despite the recession I don’t intend to hold back on investment.

 

Recession busting Leeds Drain Doctors celebrate national award

Drain Doctor Plumbing chairman Freddie Mitman (centre) presents John and Helen Rushforth with their Franchise of the Year award.

Leeds-based Drain Doctor Plumbing, which covers the city and surrounding towns and villages, has crowned another successful year by being presented with the Franchise of the Year award at the national group’s annual awards ceremony.

Group founder and chairman Freddie Mitman presented Leeds franchise owners John and Helen Rushforth with their trophy at a gala awards night at the Crown Plaza Hotel in the historic Belgian city of Bruges.

The award is given to those franchisees who have not only generated outstanding financial results related to the population of the area they serve but have developed good customer relationships, are good Drain Doctor ‘team players’ and follow the Drain Doctor ‘system’ to provide dazzling levels of customer service.

Freddie Mitman said: “John and Helen are among our longest serving franchisees and are very much a part of the solid backbone of Drain Doctor Plumbing. The company wouldn’t be the same without them.

“Since they joined us John and Helen have grown their business every year. It is a husband and wife team which has shown itself to be committed, loyal, ambitious and knowledgeable. They are a wonderful model for other franchises to follow.

“They have demonstrated the strength of the Drain Doctor system in delighting customers with first-class plumbing and drainage services and they are now reaping the rewards. Winning the Franchise of the Year award is testament to this.”

John added: “The Franchise of the Year award is recognition of the hard work the team has put in to provide people throughout our operational area with dazzling plumbing and drainage service.

“This would not have been possible without us all working together and I am proud to have such a dedicated and loyal team. Drain Doctor Plumbing rewards dedication, enthusiasm and customer care and we are delighted to have picked up this award.

“Success is the product of a national identity coupled with a proven system and the ongoing training and motivation of our technicians. Despite the current recession my new and returning customer base is increasing and we have expanded accordingly.”

 

 

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