Lakeland Verandahs franchisee has a dream come true by building up Wessex branch

Oliver Nowell, Wessex Lakeland Verandahs franchisee owner, explains how it has always been a dream of his to buy into a franchise ever since he left College - it was a long-term goal that he was determined would eventually come true, and it has.

Oliver is now the boss of Lakeland Verandahs Wessex, following a three-year spell working in the construction industry, where his main focus was landscaping in which he was making a great career for himself.

However not long after entering the sector, he started to undertake private work. It was when doing this private work that he realised he enjoyed the interaction with customers, and also got a lot of satisfaction from turning the visions of his customers into a reality.

Though he loved what he was doing and was very busy, he felt like he needed to take his career to the next level, and that’s when thoughts of owning a franchise once again began to take over his mind. He looked at many possible franchises, but struggled to find one that suited him and his ambitions. But then he came across the Lakeland Verandahs Franchise and knew it was the ideal fit.

After expressing his interest in investing in a Lakeland franchise, he met with Russell and Greg, Lakeland’s CEO and Director. “From that meeting, it was clear to me that the UPVC decking market is set for exponential growth."

“I was impressed with the direction in which they want to take the business, and the marketing expertise they have is second to none. This, teamed with the training and support on offer, gives franchisees the best chance of success. The support is especially important to me given that this is my first proper business venture, and having the backing of the team at Lakeland Verandahs is really useful.”

Lakeland’s environmental considerations and 10-year warranty were also pivotal in Oliver’s decision to join the Network, as well as customers having the option of taking out finance, which Oliver describes as “a real game changer and something that most other decking companies don’t do.”

He wants his Wessex branch to become the go-to company locally for UPVC decking, and has every confidence that will happen. “I believe that the high-quality product we provide, and the attention to detail that the fitting team delivers, will make Lakeland Verandahs Wessex one of the top decking installers in our area.”

So that he can hopefully add a second fitting team in the near future, Oliver is focused on building up an excellent reputation.