Sales
Cate Woodrow-Smith
My previous career was spent almost entirely in Sales & Sales Management, most latterly with a Swiss manufacturer Geberit. They are a market leader in piping, drainage & sanitary products, so you can see the immediate connection & transition into baby swimming were seamless (LOL). For me personally the biggest change came about when I gave birth to my daughter Olivia (now 4 & a half years of age) my priorities completely changed & having a career that involved lots of travel, staying away from home didn’t have the same appeal. I wanted to spend quality time with my family & didn’t want to miss out on enjoying the delights of my growing daughter.
I decided to have a complete rethink about my work/life balance & I wanted to be able to take & collect Olivia to school as often as possible and began to look into franchising opportunities. I kept coming back to Puddle Ducks every time and eventually, after much thought & discussion with family and friends, I signed on the dotted line & forged ahead. I knew I would need the comfort of a network and the support that Jo and Tracy could offer plus I loved the product & the brand too. However it would still be my business with all of the challenges that came with it. The other big appeal was that Swim Academy was coming online for the future & I can see huge opportunities for this brand too.
For anyone considering a Puddle Ducks franchise I would give the following advice: do lots of research in your territory and ensure you have the full support of your family as you will need it. I am working harder & longer hours in these early stages than working for a corporate. Look at your skills set & be prepared to admit that you will have definite weaknesses and will need help. Nurture your customers, they are so precious and keep your pool owners happy as you can’t operate without them!
Cate owns the Derbyshire franchise
