The SmithyTelegraphEdition 18 - February 2012

From theDirector...

WE DID IT!!!

Well what better way to kick off 2012 than being crowned the Fastest Growing Franchise in Australia!! That's like winning an Oscar in the Franchising world!! That's right, Smith & Sons topped the table in this year’s BRW's Fast Franchises list, this is a massive achievement and is testament to the hard work that our Smithy Masters and Franchisee's have been doing. We are also very proud to be the only Construction related business to be on this prestigious list, so well done to everyone involved in making this possible. What started off as a dream has become a reality not by chance or fluke but by drive, passion and hard work. I am so privileged to lead such an awesome team of business owners, this is just as much your award as it is ours, so again thanks.

It's good to be recognised for all the hard work but we aren't celebrating for long, we are focussed and more passionate than ever to make 2012 the biggest year for Smith & Sons, so hold onto your hardhats!

Although the BRW has been a good positive shot in the arm for us all, let’s face it, it hasn't been an easy 4 years, but when you have a dream and a clear vision, you hold onto it, stay focussed and keep moving forward. One master said to me ‘You just have to keep throwing punches and eventually you'll land one’. So I encourage you all to keep filling the sales funnel, keep quoting and eventually the hard work will pay off.

I'd like to take this time to thank our trade partners for their support over the last 4 years and we look forward to working with your this year.

In this Smithy Telegraph we welcome a few more builders into the Smithy family, and we look forward to seeing what they can do. So make sure you flick them an email welcoming them to the team.

Until we meet again… keep boxing on! Over and out...

Corey.

Once again, the Smithy Telegraph brings you all the latest news that is happening in Smith & Sons, Australia and New Zealand’s most exciting renovation company!

Australia and NZ’s #1 Renovation Building Company!Australia and NZ’s #1 Renovation Building Company!

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Ben Falconer - WyongA warm welcome to Ben Falconer who has taken on the Wyong franchise area, on the Central Coast in New South Wales. Ben is both a builder and building inspector with over 22 years’ experience in the building industry. He has an extensive building background from the position of builder and client consultant, working from the small extensions to multi-development projects.Ben is heavily involved in his young family and the

Bryce & Belinda Coles - North West AucklandBryce & Belinda are new to the Smith & Sons family joining at the start of 2012. But new to building they are not as Bryce has been a builder for 10+ years both as an employee and business owner servicing clients in various building projects. They decided to join Smith & Sons once discovering that integral parts of the business were in line with their own beliefs -providing quality workmanship and delivering to expectations of their clients.

With a few jobs on the go already, things are looking good! Welcome aboard Bryce and Belinda!

New Design Centre’s...

New FranchiseOwners

community in which he lives. He is a current member of The Australian Army Reserve, a participating member of the local S.E.S. (State Emergency Services), a retained Fire Fighter, and has also been involved in Tae Kwon Do instruction for the past 19 years.

Jay and Bronny Schwerin in Toowoomba West are now in their design centre which is looking great! It is situated in a very busy shopping complex and so they have had their fair share of walk ins already! They had their opening last month which was well attended. Well done Jay and Bronny and a great achievement.

Ben Falconer

Bryce & Belinda Coles

Simon Thomson - RiccartonLooks like Smithy’s is in the blood for the Thomson family - welcome aboard to Simon Thomson who has taken on the Riccarton franchise area in Christch-urch. Simon is Gerry from North Canterbury’s son so they are keeping it in the family! Simon grew up in Oxford, North Canterbury. Simon is getting married to his finacee, Samantha, February 2013. They bought their first home in Rangiora 2 years ago, which they are currently renovating all throughout. Samantha

Toowoomba West Design Centre

Bryce & Belinda Coles

Simon Thomson

works as a Retail Manager in a Pharmacy. After leaving school Simon went straight into his Building apprentiship with his father’s company, and became a qualified builder in 2009. Simon enjoys playing hockey and furniture making.

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New Cars...

Ben from Wyong’s car and trailer - nice!

Office Openings...

Toowoomba West reception area Consultation and Meeting Room

Jay and Bronny from Toowoomba West recently held their office opening on a warm Queensland day. Most of Team Smithy QLD were there plus staff members, a heap of local suppliers, business partners and friends, plus Corporate Office made the trip as well. It was a great evening and a great start to Smith & Sons Toowoomba West.

Here’s the Smithy Sprint Car!!!

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In Dunedin in the South Island of NZ, Harlem Irwin and Nicola Johnston have kicked off with an office opening very recently. Harlem and Nicola have already got jobs underway, and it was good to take a moment to celebrate their new Smithy venture with staff, suppliers, friends and more. Well done Harlem and Nicola!

QLD Franchise Meeting...

February saw the first official Franchise meeting for Team Smithy QLD. Held just across the road from Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, it was a productive day and got the team primed and ready for a great year.

February Master Meeting...

The first Master Meeting for the year was held in Tauranga in early February - head down tail up discussing how to take Smithy’s to new levels in 2012!

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Dunedin HomeShow...

As most of you are aware - Smith & Sons made the top 1 & 2 spots in this years BRW’s fast franchises issue. The local Sunshine Coast newspaper got a hold of the story and next thing you know the team from Corporate and Maroochydore were getting photographed like rock stars! Looking slick there team!

Harlem and Nicola doing the biz at the recent Dunedin Home Show

Behind the scenes...

Around the Traps...

Chris & Jason on a BRW photoshot in NSW.

Jeff & ‘The Blocks’Scotty Cam!

Brett on holidays!Bet he wishes he caught it!!

Have Gary & Tina turned to the dark side??

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Franchise Owner& SupplierProfiles...

In this issue of the Smithy Telegraph, we are introducing our franchise owner and supplier profiles! This is so we can all get to know each member of the Smithy team & our supplier partners just a little bit better, and find out what makes them tick!! This week - we introduce Wade & Victoria from Albany, and Jay & Bronny from Toowoomba!

Wade & Victoria Haldane, Albany NZ

How many kids – only 5 – the best kids in the world.Names and ages – Damian 16, Sarah 14, Jeremy 12, Janelle 11 and Leah 6.How many years have you been in the building industry – 21yrsHobbies – Wade : boating and fishing. Victoria : cooking and entertaining or eating out. Interesting facts – Victoria: homeschooled the kids for 10yrs, Wade : I was struck by lightning.What’s your experience been since joining S&S – Doing what it takesBefore we joined S&S we had a regular, but capped, income, took holidays, had fun outings on the weekends, got stuff done around the house (on our own renovation), had free time in the evenings, chatted together at night before drifting off into restful sleep.Since we’ve been with Smith and Sons we work weekends, evenings and early mornings, haven’t had a holiday since we started (conference doesn’t count), have an over grown lawn and unplastered gib on the wall, do cashflows in bed, talk about lead generation, project management, using the system, sales process ...lay awake at night, have a magnificent mortgage and an awesome overdraft. We also have an office, blinged black ute, pay someone to do our book work, estimating, project management and sales (some of those people may be us, but we’re getting paid now). We have suppliers who offer deals we couldn’t get before, clients who experience a stress free renovation and tell their friends, and the potential for a massive income. We’re also part of a focussed team – our fellow franchisees and MF, which means we can leverage off some ‘big business’ benefits such as radio advertising, home shows, and optimized websites that someone has built for us.Where do you see yourself in the next ten years?We’ll be mortgage free, take holidays – long ones anywhere we like, do fun stuff on the weekends, have a finished house, pay someone to mow the lawns, take romantic walks on the beach in the evening, and only work half days (taking the odd day off to go fishing) and have a business that’s an asset with a market value!

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Jay & Bronny Schwerin, Toowoomba West, QLD

Kids names and ages - Georgia 14How many years in the building industry - 27 since my first day as an apprentice. And 10 years as licensed Builder.Hobbies? - Relaxing and shopping with my beautiful wife and daughter. We like to picnic on a Sunday after church in a different spot each time. Interesting facts - I am currently restoring a 1937 Levis. Only recently relieved myself of my Suzuki Katana – I had it since I was 17. No regrets though, I still have the Harley.What's your experience been like since joining S+S? - We love it, fantastic to actually belong to a recognised leader in the industry. Even though we are a franchisee we feel S&S is so much more than this, “we are family!” Such wonderful people and now, mates.Where do you see yourself in 10 years? I’d like to say we will be retired and possibly doing the travelling thingy. But I can see that if I’m still loving what I’m doing then I will only be semi retired.

Franchise Owner& SupplierProfiles cnt’d...

SupplierProfile...

Brendan Jennings - James Hardie Australia

How many children? ages?....3 children…Amy 31, Niamh 16 and Liam 14……and have Just become a Grandad to Amy’s new baby Eva How many years with JH…..17 years with James Hardie…and have had many varied roles in that timeHobbies? …Boxing (getting a bit old for it now however)….outrigging, and real football (Soccer)Any interesting facts …I have a fully stocked Cocktail Bar at home and can make just about any cocktail you can name.As a supplier, why did you choose to back Smith & Sons?...James Hardie has supported Smithy’s from just about day 1….and having been at JH for the amount of time I had been, one area I always thought was under serviced by a true professionally run company was the renovation market. I ‘got it’ straight away when I first spoke to Corey and Leigh and it was the potential of the business plan that the guys spoke to me about that was really exciting.

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Before andAfter shots with Gerry!...

We are all glad Gerry from North Canterbury is better at renovating than driving a rally car!!

BEFORE AFTER!BEFORE AFTER!

SupplierProfile cnt’d...

Where do you see yourself in 10 years? ...Playing lots of golf !! surrounded by a few more Grandchildren, and being able to put my feet up and dream up some new Cocktails to try on my wife Kim..

In the News...

Doing ‘whatever it takes’ to get the job done!(including child labour)

The write up in the Sunshine Coast Daily, in regards to the BRW win!

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The BRW...

To say we are excited at our result in the BRW (Business Review Weekly) in the 2012 Fast Franchises magazine is an understatement! The BRW is the premier business magazine throughout Australia, and has given Smith & Sons a huge boost in credibility in the marketplace. Take a look at the actual article in the following pages.

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That wraps up this issue of the Smithy Telegraph - just a reminder - don’t forget to register for the 2012 Annual Team Conference on beautiful Hamilton Island. See you next time!!

That wraps up this issue of the Smithy Telegraph - just a reminder - don’t forget to register for the 2012 Annual Team Conference on beautiful Hamilton Island. See you next time!!

Quote of the month...