Alex Colls from Kwik Kerb – A Business Opportunity on the Cutting Edge

Eden Exchange recently spoke to Alex Colls, Assistant General Manager of Kwik Kerb. Kwik Kerb is complete business system specialising in onsite machine laid concrete kerbing for garden edging and commercial uses. The brand currently offers exciting opportunities for potential business owners, looking to become experts in the field and create a great new lifestyle.

“With the EdgeMaster we make you a specialist and you can get paid like a specialist. That is the unique advantage of the Kwik Kerb business opportunity.”

Edenexchange
Thanks for speaking with us Alex. Firstly, how did you get involved with Kwik Kerb? Can you tell us about about your background and experiences?

Alex Colls
I have a background in marketing. After completing my undergrad in 2004 I worked for a small software development organisation. I then worked at the Australian Stainless Steel Association and helped build grow their accreditation and membership programs. This experience stood me in good stead for marketing Kwik Kerb and I joined the company as their Marketing Manager in 2011. Since then I have been promoted to Assistant General Manager and have taken on many of the day-to-day managerial duties.

Edenexchange
Tell us a bit about the training program at Kwik Kerb? What skills should potential owners bring with them when they consider buying their own business?

Alex Colls
Kwik Kerb runs a comprehensive training course that covers the use of the EdgeMaster concrete extruding machine to lay a great kerb. The course also covers the exclusive finishing techniques that make Kwik Kerb attractive. These techniques are exclusively available only to Kwik Kerb business owners. We also provide comprehensive business and marketing training to give new Kwik Kerbers the best strategies to make their business as profitable as possible.

“We have found that the Kerbing market often does well during a downturn. People still want to improve their home; you just need to turn on a TV or visit Bunnings on the weekend to see how popular home improvement is.”

Edenexchange
What are the return on investment possibilities like for anyone who purchases a Kwik Kerb business?

Alex Colls
Kwik Kerb has a fantastic ROI potential. Kwik Kerb can sell for anywhere between $25-$40+ per metre and experienced operators can lay in excess of 100 metres in a day. Coupled with a low cost of goods, minimal overheads and no ongoing royalties means that Kwik Kerb business owners can earn a terrific income.

Edenexchange
What makes the Kwik Kerb platform unique to any other landscaping business or franchise?

Alex Colls
Gardening or landscape franchises as well as many single person business opportunities are often time-based. Your earning potential is limited by your hourly rate. Not so with Kwik Kerb. We have Kwik Kerbers who’ve said they can earn more in a day with Kwik Kerb than in a week in their previous roles.

With Kwik Kerb, you are offering your customers a product that not only looks great and serves a purpose, but can also increase the kerb appeal and add value to your customer’s home. The benefit to Kwik Kerb business owners is that they can offer Kwik Kerb at a much higher value than a standard hourly rate, because it is product not a service.

Edenexchange
Can you tell us a bit about the support the Kwik Kerb head office offer after a business has been purchased? What are some of the lengths that Kwik Kerb goes to, to ensure that new businesses not only survive, but thrive?

Alex Colls
Kwik Kerb is not a franchise so there are no ongoing fees or royalties. However, Kwik Kerb business owners are always welcome to contact us for technical advice on their machinery, or laying of a kerb. They can also call me directly to discuss marketing or quoting.

To give you an example, I had a Kwik Kerber call me up and say, “Alex, a repeat customer of mine has got a large profile commercial job, 600m and he is in a rush. I told him that I would get him a quote tomorrow. The problem is I have never used or quoted the large commercial profile.” I told him not to worry and I quickly spoke to another more experienced Kwik Kerber in the same area who specialised in commercial work. They went out together, quoted, won the job and now the new operator regularly does commercial work.

“We also provide business and marketing training to give new Kwik Kerbers the best strategies to make their business as profitable as possible.”

Edenexchange
What are some of the best pieces of feedback you’ve received from both Kwik Kerb business owners, and their customers?

Alex Colls
A reasonably new Kwik Kerb operator told me that he loves the business because he has work lined up, he knows that he can always call us when he needs to and he is able to charge a great rate for his work.

I recently had a lovely lady call me to praise an operator for their work. She followed up with an email saying “Dear Alex, Thank you for your time today, if you could please tell Carl he was right, we now want to do the whole yard. It’s fantastic!”

Edenexchange
In your opinion, what makes for a successful Kwik Kerb business owner? What type of background and experience should a new owner have, and what makes running Kwik Kerb businesses unique?

Alex Colls
It all comes down to attitude. If someone comes to us with a get up and go attitude, that is by far and away the most important aspect for a new Kwik Kerb business owner to have. Trade experience is not necessary; we teach you how to lay a great edge; the EdgeMaster concrete extruding machine does the form work for you. With the EdgeMaster we make you an expert specialist and you can get paid like a specialist. That is the unique advantage of the Kwik Kerb business opportunity.

Edenexchange
Do you have any advice for new business buyers? What sort of motivations should be driving them in their purchasing decisions?

Alex Colls
Think about what you want to get out of the business, not just about what you want to do. People have come to us who have never considered working with concrete, but they liked the flexibility and earning potential of Kwik Kerb so much they chose us. Don’t limit your thinking by saying, “I want a lawn mowing business or I want to be a courier,” there are many different business opportunities out there and one may be just what you are looking for, you just don’t know it yet.

“We have Kwik Kerbers who’ve said they can earn more in a day with Kwik Kerb than in a week in their previous roles.”

Edenexchange
What are some of the key achievements Kwik Kerb are proud of? On the other hand, what are some of the challenges you’ve faced so far?

Alex Colls
Kwik Kerb is a 30 year old Australian-grown business and is the number one brand in decorative concrete kerbing in the world, we are very proud of that achievement!

Like most businesses that have been operating for many years we have seen good economic times, and have been challenged by recessions. However, what we have found is that the Kerbing market often does well during a downturn. People still want to improve their home; you just need to turn on a TV or visit Bunnings on the weekend to see how popular home improvement is.

Edenexchange
What is it about Kwik Kerb that you particularly love? What gets you out of bed in the morning?

Alex Colls
My toddler loudly demands I get up out of bed too early in the morning! However, with Kwik Kerb it is seeing the new operators, once they have settled into their business, really start to see that they can not just make this business work, but really enjoy what they do and do very well for themselves.

Edenexchange
Thanks for your time Alex.

 

About Kwik Kerb

If you’re looking for an opportunity that gets you working in the great outdoors, where you’re assisted every step along the way, and are interested in owning your own Kwik Kerb business, contact the team at Kwik Kerb on 1800 773 231 or click here to find out more.