Carpets and Chemistry Collide

It’s soft underfoot. Wonderful to play on with kids and pets. Brings a feeling and look of luxury to rooms. New Zealanders love their carpets. But, other than Peter Clinch, who else can say their love of carpet inspired them to study chemistry at the University of Otago?

Ten years after graduating with a BSc, Peter continues to develop high performance carpet cleaning formulations from his ‘garage lab’ on the family farm. He says every day is a day for product research and development. 

“It is impossible to recreate many stains in a lab, due to the aging and oxidation process that happens over many years, so all Carpet Chemist cleaning formulas are constantly tweaked and refined to deal with the many unique challenges each job presents,” Peter says.

Peter reflects on the long way he has come. Having tested and proved the effectiveness of his unique products on the Dunedin market, he and wife Wendy are sharing their success by opening Carpet Chemist to New Zealand as a proven high-return, multiple income stream franchise opportunity.

“Cleaning wool and synthetic carpets using our industry-leading proprietary formulations and technologies is just one key income stream,” explains Peter. “This, in itself, is a proven competitive benefit, even before such add-ons as cleaning furniture fabric, curtains, mattresses, vehicle upholstery and hard flooring surfaces. And we also have something that too many New Zealanders can relate to - flood restoration.”

Other key income streams for Carpet Chemist franchisees are unique stain and pet odour guarantee options, and carpet dyeing services, says Peter. “We believe we have created a niche market with our performance-based technology that has huge potential for growth.”

A measure of the couple’s intent is their considerable investment in having highly respected Franchize Consultants assist in creating the franchise business model, setting processes and procedures, defining territories and preparing operational protocols and manuals.

Zero to mortgage free

“Like many people, I left high school not knowing what I wanted to do with my life,” Peter says. “Going to university with no career objectives seemed a waste of time and money. I tried forestry and various jobs, but none appealed. 

“Then, thinking I had nothing to lose, I started work with a carpet cleaning business. I found myself increasingly interested in cleaning chemicals, but noticed how it was normal for carpet cleaners to still leave many stains behind. There had to be huge potential for improvement, but if I was to do anything I had to study chemistry.  

“We launched Carpet Chemist shortly after I graduated in chemistry, with our bank balance almost zero. Today, we live mortgage and debt free on an 18-hectare farm north of Dunedin with a fair share of toys and things that make life fun. We feel so fortunate to have been able to no longer have to worry about our finances. 

“To achieve this level of financial freedom in so few years, in the relatively small and competitive Dunedin market, we see nothing but opportunities for franchisees across New Zealand to grow as big as they want and even become significant local employers. We’ve opted to keep ours a family business, which now includes our 17-year-old son Zach.”

Eco and enviro-friendly

“The farm is where I conduct R&D,” says Peter, “because, for me, developing and improving carpet cleaning formulations never stops, particularly when it comes to being more eco- and enviro-friendly. A unique benefit for all Carpet Chemist franchisees is that only they can buy our full range of proprietary colour repair formulations within their territory.

“We can confidently claim our carpet cleaning products are market leaders – just ask any property manager of Scarfie student-occupied flats! Because of the guarantees we offer, property managers are saving their clients big dollars by recommending us ahead of carpet replacement.”

$25,000+gst franchise fee

The franchise fee is $25,000+gst for an exclusive territory and exclusive access to the complete range of Carpet Chemist’s proprietary colour repair formulations and technologies, branding, advertising and marketing strategies, representation on the Carpet Chemist website and, importantly, initial training and startup support. 

“This includes everything from processes and systems to supercharging skills across carpet cleaning, stain and odour removal, carpet colouring and flood restoration,” says Peter. “Training is a passion, and like the development of new formulations, it is ongoing.”

Including the franchise fee, a potential franchisee should calculate a total expenditure of around $45-60,000, Peter says. This covers the purchase of a modern van, signage, carpet cleaning equipment and a shipment of carpet cleaning formulations, which require little storage and can be kept in a lockable garden shed. Depending on various factors, finance may be available.

“The drive to succeed and be unafraid of working long hours are important attributes, but equally we want to see commitment and enthusiasm for Carpet Chemist,” Peter says. 

“A franchisee may be someone who has worked in the carpet cleaning industry or simply someone wanting to build their own business. As a first step, contact me ASAP for a link to Carpet Chemist’s online network for videos and a franchise enquiry form.”

Ready for a clean break? Contact Peter at Carpet Chemist today.   

See this advertorial on page 9 of Franchise New Zealand magazine Year 33 Issue 3

Contact details for Carpet Chemist 

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