Click photo to enlarge
Derek Lilly, of Dream Doors, in his Wanaka showroom. Photo
by Marjorie Cook.
Defying the economic meltdown, Wanaka businessman Derek
Lilly is launching his New Zealand Dream Doors franchise
network this month.
The co-founder of British franchise company Dream Doors Ltd
moved to New Zealand in late 2007 and believes business is
"not all the doom and gloom" as the media reports.
The first New Zealand Dream Doors franchise was opened in
Wanaka in April last year by Eddie Spearing, and that
business had met its first-year $200,000 turnover goal within
the first six months, Mr Lilly (45) said.
"I believe we could eventually have 50 franchises. I reckon
that would take me three years. That's what it took me in the
UK. But it could be sooner," Mr Lilly said late this week.
Mr Lilly is proud the British company he founded with Troy
Tappenden in February 2000 recently reported overall sales in
2008 of 6.2 million (about $NZ17 million).
That company is experiencing continued growth despite hard
economic times, according to Franchise Magazine in the United
Kingdom.
"In times of doom and gloom, it is good to see a success
story . . . and see my baby growing up," Mr Lilly said.
Mr Lilly is no longer a shareholder with the British company
after selling his 50% shares to Mr Tappenden in 2006 for
about 400,000.
When he left the company, Mr Lilly retained full franchise
licence agreements for New Zealand, Australia, Canada and the
United States.
In 2007, he moved to New Zealand with his wife Vicki,
daughter Georgina (10) and son Tyler-Joe (7) to start afresh,
after falling in love with the country on an earlier visit.
It took six months to complete the paperwork to become part
of the New Zealand franchise system and he is now a member of
the New Zealand Franchise Association and the National
Kitchen and Bathroom Association.
The British company is not associated with the New Zealand
operation, but the two companies honour a commitment to the
brand, Mr Lilly said.
New Zealand and Britain had very similar franchise structures
but New Zealand's regulatory system was tougher, Mr Lilly
said.
"I think in New Zealand, it is stronger and more protective
of the franchisee, which is great, in my opinion . . . I have
made some significant changes in the way things run compared
to the UK," he said.
Mr Lilly never envisaged becoming a kitchen whiz as a
teenager growing up in Plymouth.
After he left school, he worked as an engineering apprentice
at the Devonport dockyard, a massive naval facility in
Plymouth.
He qualified as a mechanical engineer, joined the British
Army for five years and then worked in various sales roles,
including national sales manager for a company called
Sensormatic, a Fortune 500-listed US company.
