MOLLY MAID Announces Record Sales Growth in 2021
January 2022, Maidenhead, Berkshire
Coming out of the pandemic the UK’s leading domestic cleaning franchise had anticipated strong sales growth but surging demand from new customers helped the company set new records and early results in 2022 don’t show any sign of softening.
Kevin Hipkins, President & CEO and 30-year veteran in the industry, said the company’s HomeSafe trademark and cleaning system and strong relationships with customers were the primary reasons for the phenomenal success achieved in 2021. “During the first part of 2021 when we were still under restrictions we focused all of our energy on updating our website and contacting our customers, especially those who had not restarted their service after the first lockdown, and we couldn’t be happier with the results.” The company’s franchisees recorded sales growth of 32% in the year and performed over 225,000 home cleanings.
“A combination of Brexit and the pandemic has meant thousands of cleaners have left the industry and this has created quite an unprecedented level of demand”, adds Hipkins. “Our franchisees managed over 84,000 new customer enquiries the past year which was also a new record for our organisation. Most of our franchisees now have a waiting list of customers wanting service which is not something that we have ever had to do.”
During 2021 the company was also recognised with a slew of awards including the Workbuzz 5-Star Franchisee Satisfaction award and Continuous Improvement award. The awards were handed out at the British Franchise Association’s annual conference in November, where they were also finalists in the BFA-HSBC Franchisor of the Year category. The franchise satisfaction award is one that Hipkins says his team are most proud of because it is based on reviews from their Franchisees. “Our whole ethos is about helping Franchisees so having them rank our support so highly really does mean the world to us.”
The company is forecasting strong growth in 2022 and with newly launched technology to help Franchisees manage all of the new customer enquiries they are on track for another year of double- digit growth for its’ Franchisees. Given the unprecedented level of demand, the company can accommodate only 8 new Franchisees in 2022.
Notes for Editors
- Founded in Canada in 1979 and introduced into the UK in 1984, MOLLY MAID is the UK’s most recognised brand in the £3 billion domestic cleaning industry.
- The UK cleaning industry is experiencing significant demand as a result of the cleaning habits of families in response to the pandemic and an exodus of cleaners as a result of Brexit.
- The company trademarked HomeSafe in 2020, its safe working system to protect the health and safety of its’ Franchisees, cleaners and customers, which has been recognised by the Government.