It was a collective thumbs-up from those who travelled to Northamptonshire last month, to attend training sessions organised by Dream Doors. These peer-to-peer workshop sessions proved so popular among franchisees that more training dates have been pencilled in for the spring.
All sessions were held at Neighbourly’s training centre in Brackley. Neighbourly is the parent company of Dreams Doors’ which was purchased by the American franchise giant in 2019.
The company’s first peer-to-peer training workshop of 2024 attracted 55 people, made up of franchisees and staff members. All sessions were free to attend, regardless of experience.
Mark Edmans, a veteran franchisee who opened his Dream Doors showroom in 2010, said he benefitted from the experience: “The peer-to-peer workshop was a great opportunity to step away from the business and revisit how we manage the customer journey.
“Even after almost 14 years with Dream Doors, you can always pick up new ideas and processes. For me, it was great to learn how other franchisees approach new customer enquiries and lead development. This is something that is imperative to the success of our business.”
Croydon-based franchisee Luke Limbach, who is a more recent recruit to the Dream Doors’ network, explained: “These workshops are an invaluable opportunity to share best practice and learn from fellow franchisees. I took over an existing business in 2021, when the previous owner retired.
“And I gained a lot from this event which was run by a group of Dream Doors’ business development managers. After listening to the modules on the sales process, I came away with a list of ideas to implement in my own business and this will hopefully boost sales.”
The managing director of Dream Doors, Rick Howcroft, added: “We have a large network of franchise owners and talented employees. Over the years they have acquired plenty of valuable business knowledge and experience which they are happy to share with other members of the network. Even though they are busy running their own operations, they always value time spent together.
“To be able to host these peer-to-peer workshops here in Brackley – in our dedicated training centre – is something we will continue to encourage. It benefits everyone connected to the brand, whatever their level of knowledge and experience.”
Established in 1999, Dream Doors is one of the UK’s leading kitchen makeover companies. They are now part of Neighbourly, which is the world’s largest parent company of homes services’ brands.
Dream Doors, which is a member of the British Franchise Association, have almost 100 showrooms around the UK. They currently have just over 20 available new territories, plus a handful of existing businesses for re-sale.
The franchise specialises in kitchen makeovers: They replace doors, draws and worktops, while breathing new life into tired kitchens. The company offers full refits as well, including appliances, storage solutions, flooring etc. Dream Doors also re-faces and refits bedrooms.
The franchise enjoys a 9.7 out of 10 rating on the independent review website Checkatrade, which is based on over 24,000 reviews.
