We caught up with Gary Wraight whom made a significant career change by transitioning from sales into running a LockFit franchise in Romford, Essex. After working in sales for much of his career, he craved the flexibility and autonomy that self-employment offers, especially after spending so much time in structured corporate roles.
Switching Careers
After spending what felt like a lifetime in a corporate sales role, I felt increasingly frustrated because I needed more flexibility to spend time with my children, to attend school events such as sports day and parents evening. The breaking point was when I missed out on an ice hockey holiday to Ireland with some friends because I couldn’t get the time off as annual leave – they needed me there for some sales reporting exercise which, in the end, was delayed anyway! I was fed-up of missing out on things with my kids and life’s enjoyment in general; I found that working fulltime 5 days a week there wasn’t much time for anything else.
Considering a Franchise
I explored several different industries before choosing to run a LockFit franchise. I chose locksmithing because it offered me flexible hours and suited by desired lifestyle needs. After researching franchise opportunities, LockFit really stood out due to its support structure. I felt it would enable me to earn money and enjoy life, looking after the needs of my daughter who is 9 years old, and my son who is 18.
Taking on a Franchise
When I signed-up to a franchise with LockFit, I shadowed Kevin Russel (Lockfit’s founder) on real-life locksmith jobs to get a taste of the work I would be doing and gain practical experience. I also did training at The UK Locksmith Association in Woodford, East London, with Gary Prince. I have been locksmithing now for approximately 16 months.
Growing Services
I currently offer both commercial and domestic locksmith services and, more recently, I’m starting to consider adding auto-locksmithing to my offering, going beyond just steering wheel locks. I’m looking into what the investment and training entails.
My ultimate goal for my business is to make a good living and be able to afford regular holidays.
What I Didn’t Expect
Being a locksmith is great because I get to help people who are locked out of their homes, or in vulnerable situations such as after a break-in. What I didn’t expect was that dealing with the general public there’re often a lot of memorable moments and awkward situations. For example: I went to a job where a woman was locked out of the bedroom, only to find out her husband had the key and I found myself in the middle of a domestic dispute. I have also had the experience of a customer haggling with me over price and then when we reached an agreement, after the job they refused to pay the agreed amount. So, I held back to the keys until payment was made. Being a locksmith, you don’t know what situation you’re going to walk into next, there is ‘nothing as queer as folk’ so they say and it’s true”.
Existing Skills are Always Useful
The days I spent in sales have not been wasted, the sales skills have proved useful in locksmithing. I use my skills to upsell effectively but, at the same time, I don’t sell people things they don’t need. I use my sales skills to communicate with my customers about upgrading their locks for example, or take advantage of a better door handle that combined with a high security cylinder increases the overall security. Problem with the front door caused by dated hardware and locks, it’s likely their backdoor is the same, or vice versa. Customers are open to increasing the security of their homes and they appreciate my advice.
Marketing My Business
I market my LockFit Romford business through social media because it is free and easy to use. Also, I use Google AdWords and attend networking groups like Pop Connect and BRN, which meet weekly. I also enjoy the camaraderie within other locksmiths in the Lockfit network, as working independently can sometimes feel isolating. My website was provided by Lockfit as part of the franchise package and I take advantage of the ongoing support from Kevin, he’s always available at the end of a phone. I am feeling more confident and self-reliant as my experience builds, but occasionally I come across something I haven’t seen before and that is when I need help from Kevin and other locksmiths in my network.
www.lockfit.co.uk/gary-wraight-lockfit-romford
Instagram – @gazwraight
Facebook – LockfitRomford
Mobile: 07932 552300