KITCHEN FACELIFT FRANCHISE TARGETS 50 OUTLETS BY END OF 2013

The latest Dream Doors showroom celebrated its grand opening in Worcester on Saturday, with the city's Mayor, Councillor Pat Agar, there to cut the ribbon. Its owners, Dionne and Mark Battin, were cooking up something special to mark the occasion too. Literally, while not personally wearing the aprons, as they held professional cooking demonstrations with free food and bubbly throughout the day.

On the same day, the Battins took the record for the fastest start in Dream Doors' 14-year history. After completing their training in April, it took them less than three months to open their showroom doors. But like all Dream Doors franchisees, they began trading from home while their premises were being fitted out. And even though they were warned how quickly enquiries would start coming in, the Battins were surprised at how many sales they made before last weekend.

“We sold a £4,000 order from our very first appointment, one that came from an enquiry through the Dream Doors website,” adds Mark. “And our turnover topped £40,000 in the last six weeks, so I know we're going to be even busier now we're officially open!”

Dream Doors managing director, Troy Tappenden, rates the Battin's showroom above any other, including his own. “We might have to overhaul our showroom now, as this one is absolutely stunning,” he says. “Every time I see a new Dream Doors showroom open it is better than the last, but the attention to detail and the efforts Dionne and Mark have put in are astounding. They will do incredibly well in this area. Kitchens in Worcester will never be the same again!”

He adds: “We have at least five more franchisees on training courses in the next couple of months, so by the end of this year we should have a network of 50 showrooms from Truro all the way to Glasgow.”