At this year’s National Franchise Exhibition, kitchen makeover firm Dream Doors is unveiling something never seen at a franchise show before: a live kitchen door swap.

With demonstrations planned hourly throughout the two-day event, visitors can watch Dream Doors’ director of franchising Bill Owen – a carpenter and joiner by trade, but admittedly several decades off the tools now – replace the doors in a mocked-up kitchen. A wide variety of styles and colours will be used, from the brand’s top sellers to the more avant-garde options, revealing how quickly and simply a kitchen can be transformed with just a few new doors.

“We’ve been considering something like this for a while now,” says Bill. “But we’d always assumed potential investors are more interested in the business model than the makeover process. Especially since we are a sales and management franchise, and our franchisees aren’t expected to swap doors or fit any kitchens themselves.

“That said, we have some truly stunning products to show investors – including a seamless work surface that has no visible joins. And since it’s both the products and the speed of installation that our franchisees are selling to their customers, we thought why not demonstrate that at the NEC?”

Founded in Hampshire back in 1999, Dream Doors has grown to become the UK’s largest kitchen facelift retailer with more than 70 showrooms nationwide. The company’s innovative makeover service allows customers to completely redesign their kitchen at a fraction of the price of a full re-fit. It also reduces downtime and upheaval for the homeowner, with an average job that includes new doors, drawers, worktops, sink and taps taking just a day or two for an installation team to complete.

Managing Director, Troy Tappenden, who opened Dream Doors’ first showroom in Gosport back in 2002 and has spearheaded the company’s growth since then, predicts a turnover of £40M this year.

“Dream Doors has never been in a better position than it is now. 2016 is going to be our best year yet adding an incredible 20% to last year’s figures,” he says. “But we’re an ambitious company, and certainly won’t be resting on our laurels. Our biggest growth challenge now is in finding new partners for the dozens of areas that aren’t occupied, or finding buyers for existing territories that are ripe for resale. And that’s why we’re coming to the NEC again this autumn – but this time with a different approach and with live kitchen makeovers. Just don’t expect to see me swapping any doors myself!”

The National Franchise Exhibition will be open from 10am to 5pm on Friday 30^th September and from 10am to 4pm on Saturday 1^st October. Free tickets are available online for a limited period. Dream Doors’ will present hourly kitchen makeover demonstrations on stand L60.