When Fazeel Ali looks back on the past seven years, it’s hard to believe how far he’s come.
The South Canterbury franchise owner is celebrating seven years with CrestClean. It’s a milestone that represents not just time in business, but perseverance and a genuine passion for looking after people.
Fazeel’s journey began in Wellington, where a friend who owned a CrestClean franchise was thriving. Fazeel saw himself following the same path to success.
“I had heard good stuff about CrestClean and always wanted to be part of it,” he says.
At the time, there were no franchises available in Wellington. After moving to Christchurch, Fazeel took up painting and renovation work, but when COVID hit and jobs dried up, he decided to give CrestClean another try. This time, an opportunity had opened up in the Rolleston area, so he packed up once more and moved to South Canterbury to start his own business.
The results came quickly. By 2021, Fazeel bought his first home and now he has his sights set on purchasing an investment property.
“I’ve never looked back,” he says.
Today, Fazeel leads a team of six employees and he’s about to welcome two more. Their biggest site is Rolleston College, one of the country’s largest schools, which has recently expanded to include a second campus for senior students. Fazeel and his team now care for both campuses, ensuring that thousands of students and staff walk into clean and welcoming spaces every day.
Even during school holidays, the work doesn’t stop. While classrooms sit empty, Fazeel uses the time to scrub floors and clean windows, making sure everything is ready for the new term.
Those who work alongside Fazeel say his success comes down to his exceptional customer service. South Canterbury Regional Manager Rob Glenie considers Fazeel one of the best franchise owners he has ever worked with, particularly when it comes to building strong relationships with customers.
“It’s been an absolute honour getting to know Fazeel and watching him grow a very large successful business,” says Rob.
The respect between them is mutual. Fazeel says Rob’s support has been instrumental in building his confidence as a business owner. Rob helped Fazeel feel like a respected businessman and encouraged him to trust his own judgement.
“I’ve got a lot of trust in Rob, and he has a lot of trust in me,” says Fazeel.
At the heart of Fazeel’s business is the simple philosophy that his customers always come first. Big or small, he treats every customer with the same care and attention.
“My customers are my main priority,” he says.
Even with a busy schedule, Fazeel still makes time to mentor new franchisees as an Induction Trainer. He spends three weeks on site with new franchise owners, sharing hands-on guidance to help them feel confident running their business.
Seven years in, Fazeel is happy to pass on his advice to anyone thinking about joining CrestClean. He knows the work can be physically demanding, but the rewards go far beyond the hard work. Success is possible for anyone with a commitment to outstanding customer service.
“What differentiates CrestClean is our quality of work and communication. If you have those two skills, you could be at the top.”
