Schmidt sales rise amid home improvement boom

Schmidt is looking for new franchisees to help grow the business after celebrating a huge boost in revenue.

As we spend more time in our homes, it’s only natural we review our surroundings and decide to get started with improvement projects. Companies like Schmidt are there to help, as the kitchen franchise’s UK Expansion Manager, Rosalyn Hastings, explains:

“The pandemic has ushered in the era of the multifunctional home. Homes are no longer just for evenings and weekends. Record numbers of people are now working from their homes, so their living space needs to be an office, a study space for children, a workshop and a kitchen suitable for home baking. All this has driven a massive increase in business for the franchisee partners who own our 28 showrooms across the UK.”

In recent months, Schmidt has smashed its previous income records, with year-on-year sales up 139 percent in August and 146 percent in September. Rosalyn added,

“We have seen a huge increase in online requests for appointments from customers keen to get their projects started, and sales conversions and showroom footfall have both risen massively in recent weeks.”

The Schmidt team puts the business’s high profitability down to a number of factors. Firstly, its online Creativ’Box tool allows customers to design and order their perfect kitchens, bedrooms and living spaces. Secondly, the franchise runs TV adverts and national social media campaigns to build brand awareness and support its franchisees.

What’s more, it’s likely people are spending money they’ve gained through holiday refunds, redundancy payouts and stamp duty cuts. And research suggests the interest in home renovation will continue.

“A survey by The Institute of Directors shows that 74 percent of 1,000 firms say that they plan on maintaining home working even after the pandemic. Home working is here to stay, and people need homes that make it easy.” Rosalyn said.

Thanks to the boom in the home improvement sector, banks are happy to lend to Schmidt franchisees. If you join the franchise, you’ll need to invest around £350,000, but you can start with just £80,000-£100,000 and borrow the rest. See Schmidt’s profile page to find out more.