From a young age, Colin Blackburn knew that his path would diverge from the conventional. While his friends were continuing to further education, Colin left school at 16 and enlisted in the army. Here, Colin embraced the values of discipline, teamwork, and strategic thinking, values that would help shape him and his career to this day.
By blending those military values with some entrepreneurial spirit, Colin has found a recipe for success as a Kitchen Makeovers franchisee.
After launching in August 2023, Colin is one of the network’s newest Kitchen Makeovers franchisees. Colin’s dedication and strategic approach have allowed him to quickly establish a foothold in his local market and overcome all the challenges that a new venture brings.
In just over three months, Colin had successfully secured sales well above the company projections by the end of 2023 – a testament to his hard work and the potential of the Kitchen Makeovers brand. This early success has not only set a strong foundation for his business but has also positioned him as a rising star within the franchise network, showcasing his ability to translate his experience into tangible results.
Franchising has provided the perfect opportunity for Colin to achieve his dream of running his own business while also enjoying valuable time with his wife and three sons.
A passionate sports fan, Colin successfully balances coaching football and boxing while kickstarting a thriving business. The ideal pathway for Colin to realise his entrepreneurial aspirations, being a franchisee of Kitchen Makeovers, has allowed him to manage his own business while still cherishing quality moments with his wife and three sons.
“Kitchen Makeovers feels like the perfect fit for me,” explains Colin. “That desire to forge my own path has always been there. I’ve had a couple of small business ventures, but they never gave me the feeling of running my own franchise that Kitchen Makeovers does. Launching my own franchise has positioned me to start on a strong footing. Establishing a new business from the ground up often presents significant challenges, but franchising has been fantastic. It takes away so much hassle and allows me to concentrate my efforts on successfully launching and growing the business.”
Founded in 2018, Kitchen Makeovers introduced the UK to the future of kitchen renovations. As one of the home improvement sector’s most innovative franchise brands, Kitchen Makeovers has established itself as an exciting, highly profitable opportunity by identifying and leveraging a gap in the market.
This trailblazing approach, evolving with the demands of the sector, is helping franchisees provide customers with a long-awaited, modern, cost-effective and sustainable service up and down the country, breathing new life into the heart of their homes.
“The support from head office from day one has been exceptional. I can call them whenever I need something and always get a response. The franchisee network is a great support group where we all can openly discuss issues, solutions, and ideas. That collaborative environment and sharing our experiences helps us all and is a real asset – regardless of where franchisees find themselves in their journey with the brand.
“It’s always daunting when you take the plunge with a new business venture, but I love the products and services that Kitchen Makeovers offers. I’m a no-nonsense character; I’m upfront and honest with the customer straight from the outset. The products sell themselves; they’re modern, sustainable and great value.”
Kitchen Makeovers attracts both first-time franchisees and seasoned entrepreneurs looking to move with the times, thanks to an impressive infrastructure designed for scalability and a revitalised approach to customer experience in the home improvement sector.
Franchisees are encouraged to fully exploit the success they can achieve within their territories by building a local network of expert tradespeople. Kitchen Makeovers’ approach of championing exceptional customer service is continuing to reap the rewards in a sector that has traditionally delivered below-par customer experience. Through recurring income streams, low overheads, an impressive scope for growth and ongoing development, the opportunity for franchisees is huge.
“My experience with Kitchen Makeovers has been brilliant. For me, it’s simple: if I put the time in, I see the rewards, and that’s incredibly fulfilling. I still have the flexibility to take time off to enjoy myself outside of work.
I’m a season ticket holder at Cambridge United. I love coaching my son’s youth football team, and I’m a qualified boxing coach as well. Being able to spend time with my wife and our three sons is vitally important to me, and I’m really happy with the balance I control as a franchisee.
“Kitchen Makeovers has already given me a lot, and I’m always looking for ways to give back to my community. I’ve started by sponsoring my sons’ U13 football team, but I want to do more. This summer, I’m planning something special – I’d like to do a free kitchen renovation for a family in need. It’s my way of sharing the success and helping others.”
On track to welcome 40 franchisees by the end of 2024, sophisticated branding, systems, operations and processes have established Kitchen Makeovers as a leading voice in a market that was crying out for a cost-effective, fuss-free service provider before the brand’s inception. This has seen the franchise receive over 700 glistening five-star reviews from happy customers across multiple reputable online sources.
While Colin is one of Kitchen Makeovers’ newest franchisees, he’s shown great determination to hit the ground running. Turning over well above the company’s projections in his first three and a half months since launching, the entrepreneur is setting ambitious targets for the year ahead to make 2024 a memorable one for him and his family.
Having already added a social media manager to help promote his business, Colin will look to recruit another team of fitters this year, and his goal is to average two kitchen renovations a week in 2024.
“For anyone thinking of joining Kitchen Makeovers, go for it and really embrace it all. Set yourself a decent marketing budget to begin with and make sure you get your name out there. Go the extra mile, hand out leaflets, get on social media. Really push yourself at the beginning and you’ll see results.
I’ve tried a couple of different business ventures, but this one clicked straight away. There’s no feeling like putting all my jobs up on my big board and making a difference to my community while also bringing work and innovation. It’s an exciting future ahead and one that’s only been made possible as a franchisee.”