Even well into his second decade with the franchise, one of Granite Transformations’ longest standing and most successful partners still has his eyes firmly on the future – and that future looks very bright, indeed!
Meet Steve Leech, who joined the Granite Transformations franchise back in 2011, and has made big news across the network recently with the opening of his 4th showroom in Bury St. Edmunds. A stunning new and modern setup marks his incredible expansion from small start-up to a 5 territory business empire in just over 12 years. Whilst this is an amazing achievement, Steven started out just like everyone else: with just a single workshop/showroom setup, but also with the full power of the Granite Transformations brand behind him.
Working as a carpenter for many years before joining the franchise, Steve found himself in the same position as many other trade professionals following the financial crisis of 2008/9: competing for what seemed like fewer and fewer jobs.
“I remember turning up to potential customers’ houses and there literally being a queue of other carpenters outside waiting to give a quote.” Steven told us. “It was completely unsustainable, and it was clear the old way of doing things simply wasn’t going to work for me anymore. When a friend of mine introduced me to Granite Transformations, who were looking for someone to open in my area, I decided to look into it.
“I had already started to do more and more kitchens, and I could see straightaway that Granite Transformations were doing something different which would definitely appeal to customers in my area. “
The core of our business model is making over instead of starting over, especially with our trademark Top that Fits on Top. While our franchisees can offer a very wide range of products and services to suit any need, helping customers quickly and easily upgrade their kitchens and bathrooms without needing to rip out the old ones is a real game changer, especially when the economy is struggling. A huge USP which has always kept our franchisees at the top of their game, even during the many crises of the early 2020s.
“The products are what really sell this of course, but that’s not all. Most kitchen and bathroom renovation companies don’t offer fittings or other services, and homeowners often need to go to multiple people to get the job done. We are a 1-stop shop. You can come to us and we will deal with everything from start to finish.”
For Steve, this was exactly what he needed to turn his fortunes around, and his business has grown and grown every year since he first opened his doors in early 2012. Setting up his new showrooms has meant a significant investment for Steve, but his experience so far with the franchise means he is more than confident that they will continue to pay for themselves by helping his business stand out from the crowd.
On top of that confidence, Steve has always been very keen to embrace the Granite Transformations ethos of never resting on your laurels. We’re always looking for ways to improve our offerings, adapt to the changing marketplace, and keep all our franchisees at the very forefront of what they can do for their customers. Steve is planning to have a special section in his new showroom to showcase all the newest products coming out of Granite Transformations, especially the exciting new bedroom options which are set to make a big splash in 2025.
Steve is also a key member of our Franchise Advisory and Support Team, a small group consisting of some of our most experienced franchisees who work alongside the head office support team, providing advice and training to new and existing partners. By bringing in voices like Steve’s, we are able to ensure that we are always in touch with our franchisees’ needs and can do everything we can to help them thrive as our partners.
“I know how difficult it is when you are starting out, even when you’re part of a franchise like Granite Transformations. I leant very heavily on the support of people like the head office team and my fellow franchisees back in the early days, and what I have today takes a lot from what I learnt from them. It’s nice to give that back and be the person people rely on now. You don’t get that when you are in business alone. That’s one of the most powerful aspects of being part of a franchise. I’m still learning, too!
“It also means I am involved in pushing the franchise in the direction I think we should be going in the future. Right now, we are very focused on the upcoming generation of home owners and how their expectations are different from the older generation of customers. We’re already thinking about the generation we will be hitting in 10 years’ time. We want to make sure we’re not only adaptable, but have the reputation for great service and products that our new customers will appreciate.”
We can’t wait to see what you achieve next, Steve!
When you join a franchise like Granite Transformations, you’re in business for yourself, but you’re never by yourself. You’re part of a team of like-minded business people like Steve who are ready to work together with you to create the future you deserve.
Is it time you were a part of it? Get in touch today to learn more about what a Granite Transformations franchise could mean for you.
