Interview with Scott and Jeneene Askew – Sportzing Court Care Sunshine Coast
Eden Exchange recently spoke with Scott and Jeneene Askew who run a Sportzing Court Care business on the
Sunshine Coast. Scott and Jeneene talked to us about their franchising journey as well as their experiences growing their Sportzing business.
Sportzing Court Care is an Australian franchise which specialises in servicing, cleaning, maintaining and installing tennis courts. It has grown grown rapidly in recent years and looking for new franchisees around Australia.
Edenexchange
Thanks for speaking with us Scott and Jeneene Firstly, why did you get in to franchising? What were you doing prior to Sportzing and how did you first get involved with the company?
Scott and Jeneene Askew
I had a career in sales and marketing roles within a global business. I focused on external business relationships with key stakeholders while internally developing sales people to perform at their best. While these roles were exciting and rewarding, it was a hurdle to try and manage a positive work/life balance. The opportunity arose to leave this business. For more than 10 years we had engaged a Sportzing Court Care franchisee to clean and service the tennis court at our home. In fact, my wife Jeneene and I had discussed many years ago what a niche business this was and that it would be ideal to seek out more information and one day take the step away from the corporate jungle.
In late 2015 we contacted the Sportzing Head Office and were impressed by the franchisors commitment to building the brand and developing products and processes to assist the franchisees build their businesses. In early 2016 we purchased both the existing Sunshine Coast and the North Brisbane territories.
Edenexchange
You currently service areas on the Sunshine Coast and North Brisbane. What areas do you focus on? What are some of the factors that make running a Sportzing businesses in your area unique?
Scott and Jeneene Askew
We focus on regularly servicing our current customers and giving them a high level of satisfaction, while also being committed to extend our customer base through targeted direct and non direct marketing channels. The tools developed through the Sportzing head office assist in this targeted approach. The Sunshine Coast area is seasonal and relies greatly on tourism. It peaks during the school holiday periods and the scheduling of works in this area must be dictacted by this seasonality.
Edenexchange
What advice do you have for someone looking to own a franchise for the first time? What’s the key message you tell new franchisees?
Scott and Jeneene Askew
Seek out other franchisees in the business, ask the hard questions and take it all in. A franchise does give the back room infracture, but ultimately the business success falls on the franchisee. Treat your customers with respect and be commited to delivering consistant results on each and every job you complete.
Edenexchange
In your opinion, what does it take to be a successful Sportzing franchisee?
Scott and Jeneene Askew
Success comes in many forms as the needs for each individual differs. Success may be a flexible lifestyle or financial security or other priorities. In my journey the feeling of being successful is seeing the excitement that a client has when you transform their worn or tied court surface into something they never though it could be.
Edenexchange
What type of support does Sportzing provide once a new franchise commences?
Support is there from the first contact with the head office as an enquiry, through the induction processes, both back room and on court to the ongoing running of a territory. I have found both Alan and Sandie Dean to be approachable and willing to discuss matters form the day to day operations to the upcoming initatives of the brand.
Edenexchange
What are some key industry trends you believe franchise buyers and owners need to be aware of? What’s your take on where your industry is heading?
Scott and Jeneene Askew
In respect of the industry, I see an opportunity to develop our service to focus from prodominatly a synthetic grass maintenance business to a whole tennis court maintenance and court care services business. This is the only way the vision of being the “leading brand in the tennis industry in Australia” will become reality.
Edenexchange
What are some of the achievements you are proud of at Sportzing. On the other hand, what challenges have you faced to get the business where it is today?
Scott and Jeneene Askew
Both Jeneene and I are very proud of the Sportzing brand from a customer’s perspective. I have not come across a single customer since we purchased this business in early 2016 that has a negative word to say. It is a pleasure the way our customers greet us when we arrive at their homes to carry out works on one of their most prized possessions – their tennis court. The challenges are there daily, from the unprediciable weather we can have to the demands from customer on short deadlines, but it is ultimately your attitude and commitment to your life and business goals that will drive the success.
Edenexchange
What’s the most interesting part of your job? What drives you to do what you do?
Scott and Jeneene Askew
Each and every court that you attend is different. Although the process and procedure is similar you have to have the ability to change and adapt to the various nuianaces that each individual court represents. Our drive is to ensure we deliver the best results we can for each and every customer.
Edenexchange
Thanks for your time Scott and Jeneene.
Sportzing Court Care is Australia’s foremost franchise specialising in servicing, cleaning, maintaining and installing tennis courts. Sportzing is now recruiting new franchisees around Australia. To view their latest franchise opportunities please click here or call Call 1800 818 894 for a confidential discussion.
