From climbing ladders to installing them

Following the recommendation of a friend who was already an Access4Lofts franchisee, Ryan Wong decided to join the network and open his own Bromley business

Having moved from Hong Kong to the UK about a year ago, Ryan Wong and his team are all ex-firemen who were keen to build a career they could control and have all the rewards that come with it.

Looking for a way to put his practical skills to use, Ryan decided to join the Access4Lofts network by opening an Access4Lofts franchise in Bromley.

“Before I came to the UK, I didn’t really know anything about lofts.” Ryan said. “We just don’t have them in Hong Kong! The idea that you would have a big space in your home that wasn’t being used properly is just crazy to me coming from a city where space is at such a premium. When Kelvin (from A4L Milton Keynes) told me about his work, I could easily see why this would be so important to UK homeowners.”

Taking a leap of faith

Ryan and his team knew that Access4Lofts could provide them with a way to offer superior products and services in a booming market, but making the decision to invest during times of economic uncertainty was a hard call to make.

“My biggest question was about income.” Ryan explained. “Especially because I had no idea how business works in the UK. I was also concerned about how best to do marketing and attract new customers. Access4Lofts showed me some of their figures, and I thought ‘Wow! They are growing so fast!’. The training took care of everything else.”

Behind the training process

While Ryan and his team had quite a bit of experience in using ladders and monitoring health and safety from their firemen days, they have also benefited from Access4Lofts’ comprehensive training.

Every franchisee learns how to fit the brand’s full range of ladders, hatches and boarding, but they are also coached in every aspect of running a successful business. One of the highlights is the bespoke admin system which streamlines all aspects of the business from customer enquiries and bookings through to invoicing and accounts, allowing hard-working teams like Ryan’s to focus on what’s most important: growing their business and delivering a fantastic service.

“The training was great, and fun! We were already quite knowledgeable about DIY and maintenance work, so loft access installation was an easy step up for us,” shared Ryan. “However, we also learned how to deal with potential customers and handle calls and enquiries.”

The team’s first customer was actually Ryan’s neighbour but, like many other Access4Lofts franchisees, the team has found that word soon spreads about the great service and products they can offer.

To find out more about franchising with Access4Lofts click here.