Ex-policeman Patrols Fife Beat As Cleaning Business Expands

FIFE, UK (Monday, December 11, 2006) - FORMER Edinburgh policemen David Hunt has expanded his Capital cleaning business into Fife, taking on a second Chem-Dry franchise.

Having successfully built up his Castle Chem-Dry operation in Edinburgh over the past five years, Mr Hunt has added a Kirkcaldy base to his business, operating under the Kingdom Chem-Dry banner.

"We've been established in Edinburgh for five years and have done a huge amount of domestic and commercial work there in that time, from wee wifies wanting their carpet cleaned for £50 up to George Street office jobs worth a few thousand," said Mr Hunt.

"We're now taking that template and applying it to Fife. Property development is thriving in Fife, as is business, so it seems an ideal place for us to be. Fife's economy is on the up and there's a lot of people there with good incomes."

Mr Hunt launched the family-run business in 2001 with a £13,000 investment. He said about 60 per cent of his revenues stem from domestic and commercial work at the affordable end of the scale, with the remainder coming from the costlier insurance-instructed clean-ups of flooring and upholstery and after fire or flood damage.

"I want to keep it like that; keep doing the £50 jobs. They were the ones that kept the business going in the first 18 months. We've grown considerably on the back of them and I want to keep providing that kind of service both here and in Fife," said Mr Hunt.

The former Lothian and Borders policeman, who spent 14 years with the force, bought his Edinburgh franchise after calling Chem-Dry to do some work in his home.

"Two months later I was out of the police and doing what I'd always fancied doing - running my own business," he said. "I saw the potential and took a risk."

Chem-Dry was founded in the United States in 1977 - arriving in the UK in 1987 - and now has more than 4000 franchised operations in 46 countries servicing more than 28 million homes and businesses. More than 700 of its business units are in the UK.

Castle Chem-Dry - whose commercial clients have included Grant Property Management, Dove Davies, Jenners and Macdonald Hotels - was recognised as the best performing Scottish Chem-Dry franchise in 2003-2004 and also scooped the Chem-Dry Celtic Franchise Award, covering Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

In its last trading year, the business turned over upwards of £250,000, a figure which Mr Hunt forecasts will jump to £350,000 this year.

"Demand in the property and personal services sector just continues to grow, so I would hope to reach this target by continuing to offer an honest and quality service," said Mr Hunt.

View all Chem-Dry Carpet Drapery & Upholstery Cleaning Press Releases

This article has been read 416 times.

Printed From:
http://www.thefranchisemall.com/news/articles/16736-0.htm