North Harbour Regional Manager Profile Regional Manager: Mobile: Phone: Fax: email: Address: Roby Dummigan 027 226 8448 (09) 415 8854 0800 273 781 roby@crestclean.co.nz P.O. Box 302123 North Harbour North Shore 0751

Property law and cleaning are about as far apart as you can get – other than a legal office needing good, honest cleaners perhaps.  But, having a husband with more than 20 years in the industry – it seemed like a good sideways shift for Roby Dummigan.

It was the second major move Roby made with husband Phil.  First, the English couple packed up and left UK to seek an alternative lifestyle – somewhere around the world.  During a year-long globetrot, they came to New Zealand, fell in love with the place and decided to stay.  Interestingly, they had already checked out Crest.

“We first saw it on the web in UK,” says Roby.

Franchising is generally frowned upon in England – but thorough research at the time showed the Dummigans that the franchise sector was very healthy in New Zealand.  When they settled here two years ago, the Dummigans looked at the other franchises but nothing else stood out.

“Crest sounded different and, after making some enquires, we found that the system would suit our balance of skills.”

They were offered the North Harbour Master Franchise up front.  Phil’s expertise proved he knew the business from the floor right up to management level.  As a lawyer Roby was a skilled administrator and negotiator.  They were perfect – so they settled in Gulf Harbour – ready for the challenge of what Roby calls “bare land”.

“It was zero.  We started with a blank piece of paper.”

Unfazed by approaching people, Roby says they started cold calling – door to door.

“Within a short period people were calling us for work.”

For Phil it was back to where he’d started – a microfibre mop in hand, at the coalface.  Unafraid of elbow grease herself, Roby joined Phil cleaning – building a customer base they could pass on.

Interestingly, the couple soon discovered things were different here to the UK.  Ironically, the Dummigans were educating kiwis on how to be clean and green in the office.

Clients learned the spin-offs from cleaner offices – workplaces cleaned daily rather than sometimes a weekly flick.  Staff morale boosted, work environments changed – they smelled nice.  And as one client commented “this place now smells pretty”.  People were happier – and all due to high-quality cleaning.

The Dummigans discovered other subtle differences between Godzone and the UK.  There is a definite Kiwi culture and they’ve learned to care and listen when handling clients in a different way.  Matching franchisees to customers is of key importance.  Educating clients is ongoing.

Roby and Phil now have a wide range of customers in the North Harbour region.  These cover everything from a tiny office to huge colleges, apartment complexes and retail premises in malls.  Growth in Albany and Rodney alone offers enormous scope and prospects are exciting.  While Phil focuses on training, quality control and looking after franchisees, Roby concentrates on administration – dealing with customers and building business.

At all times they strive for excellence – in product and service.  Roby and Phil are committed to environmentally friendly products, quality control and good communication.  If any issues do arise - they’re resolved promptly – either at franchisee level or by Roby and Phil.  They believe in being available to support their franchisees.

Is it hard work?  Certainly!  Has it been worth it?  Definitely!  Crest has lived up to expectations and Roby and Phil are in it for the whole nine yards.