Smith&Smith buys the Exceed franchise

The acquisition of Exceed marks the second foray into franchise ownership by Smith&Smith’s owners, who bought the Laser Plumbing & Electrical franchise in 2018. Managing Director, Michelle van Gaalen, says, ‘Smith&Smith has been built on a strong history of family values and, for this reason, Exceed is the perfect addition to our family of businesses.

‘When I first met Exceed’s founders David and Karen Dovey last year, I was impressed with not only how successful a business they had built, but also their values and passion for their people, franchise owners and customers,’ says van Gaalen.

‘The more we saw, the more we felt that Exceed would be a great fit alongside Smith&Smith and Laser. Being a franchise model, it’s a business we know that we can support and grow.’

Smith&Smith are part of the Belron group of companies – the world's leading vehicle glass repair and replacement group. Belron is a Belgian-owned multinational based in the UK, and has over 30,000 employees in over 40 countries. Group turnover in FY2020 was almost 4 billion Euros (NZ$6.8 billion).

Increased support

Exceed has 27 franchisees across New Zealand. Smith&Smith will be providing the Exceed team with a range of support, particularly around procurement, digital technology and marketing, similar to the way they did when welcoming Laser to their business in 2018.

‘Exceed are just as passionate as we are about making a difference that is focused on quality and care. I look forward to not only supporting them, but also bringing their skills and expertise into Smith&Smith to strengthen our team and business,’ adds Michelle van Gaalen.

David and Karen Dovey, who founded Exceed as The Window Maintenance Company in Wellington in 1991, announced their retirement at the recent National Franchise Conference. They say, ‘When we first met Michelle, we immediately had respect for each other and knew our principles were aligned. We feel very confident we are leaving our business of 30 years in capable hands, and know the principles that our team values and lives by will be respected.’

Exceed joins Smith&Smith as of 2 August 2021. Exceed General Manager, Tony Burnette, and a team of 20 provide support to the network from their base in Mt Maunganui, while Matt Still steps into the newly-established role of Trade Services Director, reflecting his responsibilities in both the Laser and Exceed businesses.

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