At just 25 years old, Craig swapped his Deputy Managers role with a national retailer for self-employment as a Dream Doors franchisee, giving him the work-life balance he'd always craved.
"I'd worked my way up through the ranks, starting out as a part-timer on the shop floor at 16 and becoming a store supervisor by the time I was 21. But as my responsibilities increased, so did my hours – exponentially! It got to a point where I'd leave the house before my partner got up and return home so late at night that she'd already gone to bed! I had no life outside of work.
There's a culture within the retail sector that sets expectations way too high. So, while you might be contracted to work 40 hours a week, you're held accountable to the job itself, not your hours. And that's fine for a while. But when you're increasingly expected to work yourself into the ground, where the job takes over your life and your stress levels go through the roof, those expectations become both unacceptable and unsustainable.
Since joining Dream Doors I've never looked back."
Recognising the need to change career was simple, says Craig. And finding that Dream Doors, the UK's largest kitchen facelift retailer and an award-winning franchise brand, had an existing business for sale less than 20 miles from him was perfect timing.
"I took over the business in the January and, to be frank, the transition from employee to employer and business owner was pretty seamless. The work itself is not that different from what I was doing before, but the experience couldn't be further removed. I'm in charge and, at last, I'm able to balance my work and my life! I've put a team in place who are all playing to their strengths and I know this business can only grow, giving me a future with financial freedom and security. We've just had the biggest month this showroom has ever achieved, coming close to £100,000 of sales in one month!.
I'd recommend a franchise to anyone else who is in the same position I was back then. You need personal discipline and drive, of course, but being part of a franchised brand has given me access to a supply chain, economies of scale and support that I couldn't hope for on my own."
Dream Doors is looking for more franchisees, like Craig, to open new showrooms or take over existing resales. Experience isn’t necessary as award-winning training and support is provided.
Franchisee Neil Fisher followed in the footsteps of a childhood friend to launch his own Dream Doors trading territory.
Simon Herbert took the leap into running his own business two years ago and opened Dream Doors Gloucester.
Ramin Razaq relocated from Belarus to open a profitable kitchen makeover showroom in the UK with his wife Wida.
After more than a decade of trading, Dream Doors franchisees Mike and Elaine Hurley are still enjoying their work and making great money.
Chris Nowell joined Dream Doors in early 2019 and is now running a kitchen showroom in Telford.
Almost five years after joining Dream Doors, Mark Holmes continues to see his take home profits rise.
Vishal Amin has found a way to balance spending time with his growing family and earning a great take home salary with Dream Doors.
Ex-service engineer Mick Appleton is indulging his love of interior design by opening a kitchen showroom.
It took Wilson Craig just 31 days to formally open his kitchen showroom in his hometown of Prestwick.
Colin Lynch was looking for a change of career and knew franchising for the UK’s #1 kitchen makeover company was the way forward.
Changing his career direction has given Wilson Craig the chance to work alongside his family.
Selling up the family business allowed the Bachelor family to start a lucrative Dream Doors kitchen makeover franchise.
David Parr was looking for a career change that offered greater earning potential.
David Ward OBE has swapped conflict zones in Europe and the Middle East for a Dream Doors kitchen showroom in the West Country.
Gary and Hayley Ashe relocated to Britain to tap into its ‘mature’ franchising market.
Former sales manager Manbir Takhar was looking for a new work opportunity when he joined Dream Doors in 2015.
Sean and Katie Hebdon have built a successful, family-run business that delivers the lifestyle they had always craved.
Focusing on top notch customer service has allowed husband and wife, Martin and Alex Smith, to build a highly profitable business.
Dream Doors franchisee Lynn Fletcher found the working flexibility she needed by joining the UK’s #1 kitchen makeover company.
Taking on a Dream Doors franchise allowed ex-teacher Matt Jones to move back to his favourite part of the country.
The James family has worked together to generate over £1million in annual sales from their Dream Doors showroom in Stoke-on-Trent.
Ex-banker Jerry Innesbeer took back control of his working life by taking on a Dream Doors franchise after being made redundant.
Samiul Islam and Abdul Muktadir have surpassed their income targets in their first 18 months of running a Dream Doors franchise.
Mark and Janet Warr approached Dream Doors to seek the opportunity and method they needed to grow their business.
Dream Doors franchisees Richard Marshall and Jamie-Louise Brewer generated over £94,000 in their first month of trade.
Joining Dream Doors has been a 'whirlwind' for David and Kate Howle of Worcester.
How people with no prior experience are building half-a-million-pound businesses with Dream Doors.
Mark and Rachael say that they have never felt more at home whilst working as Dream Doors Franchisees.
Lavine decided to open his own Dream Doors franchise and tells us what first attracted him to the proposition.
Matt Jones, the new owner of Dream Doors Truro, worked as a design technology teacher for 12 years before taking on a franchise.
Everything about the franchise works as it is written in the manual and, in your early days, this is important while you learn the business.Paul Reeder
The training and support has been fantastic and has really reinforced the fact that we made the right decision. The initial training was really helpful and there have been plenty of visits from the Franchise Support Manager to keep us on the right path.Helen Mahon
If you want to work for yourself and have more flexibility, I would recommend a Dream Doors franchise. Also it’s good to know that you can run your own business, but still have the back up of a national company.Matt Jones
Industry-leading training and support
13-week induction programme – covering all aspects of running a successful business
Dream Doors is part of Neighbourly, the world’s largest parent company of home services and property-related franchises