Ep112 Brendan Brown, Poolwerx, Redland Bay & Shailer Park - Franchise Owner Journey

Brendan Brown is the multi-site franchise owner of Poolwerx Shailer Park and Redland Bay in Southeast Queensland.   With over two decades of experience in civil engineering and construction materials including major infrastructure and precast concrete projects, Brendan reached a turning point in his corporate career and decided it was time to pursue something of his own.   Motivated by a desire to return to hands-on, technical work, he explored various industries before the pool industry caught his attention. After months of research, secret shopping, and conversations with the Poolwerx team, Brendan took the plunge and acquired the Shailer Park store in mid-2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. A second opportunity soon followed with Redland Bay, expanding his territory without requiring additional financing.   Brendan now leads a growing team of retail staff and mobile service technicians, balancing store operations with on-site problem solving. From digital marketing and real estate partnerships to exceptional customer service, he’s focused on building trust in a competitive market.   Looking ahead, Brendan plans to expand further with more service vans and a third retail outlet, driven by a clear vision and the autonomy that comes with business ownership.   0:00 Introduction 0:37 Brendan's career journey from civil engineering to Poolwerx franchise ownership 2:18 Two decades in engineering and the shift from technical work to leadership 4:20 Transition from engineering to logistics through industry connections and opportunity 5:23 Managing factory relocation projects and the search for personal ownership and control 7:08 Crossroads moment and choosing the pool industry for its technical and growth potential 8:35 Attracted to the pool industry for its technical challenge and stable demand in Queensland 9:38 From due diligence to multi-site ownership with Poolwerx during the pandemic 11:20 Acquiring established Poolwerx franchises and expanding territory with minimal risk 12:59 Culture shock of becoming a business owner and managing cash flow firsthand 14:55 Building customer trust as the biggest challenge in taking over an existing store 16:22 Balancing store management and field work across two Poolwerx franchise locations 17:57 Generating sales through digital marketing, real estate networks, and local outreach 19:01 Expanding in a growing market while maintaining service excellence in established areas 20:37 Planning for growth with more service vans and a potential third retail store 22:38 Wrap up   Podcast Produced by:  www.franchisebusinesshub.com.au Listen or Watch on; Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/yzcmwht6 Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/yh3tkwa8 Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/5d2p24vv YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZggRIjCDxt4