Nivitesh Kumar is usually the one presenting Long Service Awards, but he recently found himself on the receiving end of recognition as he celebrated his 15-year anniversary as Waikato Regional Master Franchisee. Administration Assistant Karena Townsend and Quality Assurance Co-ordinator Ginny Lucas organised a surprise morning tea to recognise his career milestone.
When Nivi first arrived in New Zealand from Fiji, he struggled to find meaningful work and considered returning home. Just in time, a friend suggested purchasing a CrestClean franchise. He was inspired by the success stories of other CrestClean franchise owners and embraced the opportunity. After two years managing a successful franchise, Nivi seized a new challenge by stepping into the role of Master Franchisee.
“The company had a great reputation,” he recalls. “I could see that the people within CrestClean were successful.”
In his 15 years with the company, he has seen many positive changes. He values CrestClean’s dedication to continuous improvement, particularly in developing innovative products and systems that keep the company ahead of the curve. He highlights the introduction of health and safety systems, such as SafeClean®, and the training opportunities that enable franchise owners to increase their scope of services.
“With the new systems and training, we’ve been able to grow our services,” says Nivi.
“CrestClean puts a strong emphasis on upskilling. It’s great.”
One of Nivi’s proudest achievements has been the region’s impressive growth, with franchise teams increasing from 10 to 48. The strength of the Waikato region is a testament to Nivi’s commitment to building and maintaining strong relationships with both franchisees and customers.
“It’s expanded a lot, and we have franchisees with bigger business now, as opposed to the early days when they had a small turnover,” says Nivi.
“We also make sure that we regularly communicate with customers and immediately respond to any feedback. That’s the key to maintaining those relationships.”
Beyond his personal achievements and professional development, Nivi says the most rewarding aspect of being a Master Franchisee is seeing his franchisees succeed.
“It’s great seeing my franchisees succeed – owning homes and achieving financial goals. I enjoy supporting them in reaching the business growth they aspire to,” he says.
From day one, Nivi knew he would be with CrestClean for the long-term. Reflecting on the strong support he’s received from the broader CrestClean community, he’s looking forward to seeing what’s in store for the next 15 years.
“It’s been a great journey. I’m here to stay!”
