Hawke’s Bay franchise owners Bidur and Barsha Karki have been CrestClean franchisees for three years, but their connection with Maraenui Bilingual School began well before they ever owned a business.
Before taking the step into franchise ownership, the couple spent four years working at the school as part of another CrestClean franchise team. During that time, they became familiar faces around the school and quickly earned a reputation for being friendly, reliable and taking real pride in their work.
When the school was without CrestClean cleaners for a short time, Hawke’s Bay Regional Manager Tim O’Leary got in touch with Executive Officer Marina Hancy to share the good news that Bidur and Barsha were starting a franchise of their own and were keen to return and take care of the school’s cleaning.
Marina says the decision to have them back was an easy one, as Bidur and Barsha were already well known and loved by the school community.
“We already knew we could trust them and that they were good people. We knew they’d go over and above to make sure our school was safe and clean,” she says.
“There’s no need for us to check their cleaning, because we know their high standard.”
Since taking over the cleaning, Bidur and Barsha have continued to impress Maraenui staff. Marina says communicating with them is effortless – a simple text is all it takes, and they’re always quick to respond. They’re also proactive, letting her know if they notice anything out of the ordinary during their cleans.
Whether it’s a classroom, bathroom or cloak bay that’s been left in a poor state, or a potential health and safety concern, Bidur and Barsha will let Marina know straight away.
Each evening, Bidur makes a point of checking in with Marina to see if everything is okay or if there’s anything she’d like to discuss. As they move through the school each day, the couple are able to spot issues before they become hazards. From cracked toilet seats to rusty taps, nothing slips past unnoticed.
“They don’t have to tell us but they’re just so lovely. It’s in their nature to do so,” says Marina.
“They really are excellent.”
Although Bidur and Barsha carry out their cleaning well after students have gone home, they’re still highly respected within the school. Students are regularly reminded how important the cleaning team is and are encouraged to treat them with respect.
Marina and the Maraenui Bilingual School staff have watched Bidur and Barsha’s journey from employees to business owners and couldn’t be happier to see them thriving. With a trusted cleaning team working quietly behind the scenes, Maraenui is not just cleaner and safer, but a school that feels well cared for.
