Rhian McCelland - Gold Coast

After eight long years as a security officer, I’d seen it all and was finding the more I saw people behaving badly the more I switched off from connecting with them. I knew I needed a change. Once my contract was up I went into fencing as a laborer for another fencing company and found I really enjoyed being outdoors and taking pride in something I had constructed myself..

After about a year, still loving my job but knowing I wasn’t going to go any further wasn’t enough for me. I decided it was time to branch out on my own. I looked through the paper and found Jims Fencing was advertising for franchisees on the Gold Coast. This was the perfect opportunity I had been looking for; I could be my own boss and still get great support from a household and respected name.

My partner Kellie and I contacted Steve and Anna Horton (our initial franchisors) in November 2005 to begin our new journey (and challenge) together. It didn’t take long for us to work out that this would be a great decision for us and by January 2006 we were the proud first time business owners of Jims Fencing Ashmore.

Our first year was a real shock to the system. I was driving from Brisbane to Tweed Heads doing quotes and hoping they would turn into jobs, some did, and most didn’t.

I did what most of us do in that situation – remained totally calm – NOT, I was on the phone to Steve everyday getting help, advise and even jobs just to stay afloat. The support both Steve and Anna gave through this time was remarkable and really appreciated.

As time rolled on the jobs rolled in and now after three years we are so proud of the progress we have made and are now finding we have a waiting list for people wanting work done.

This career change has been great for us, even now when everyone is feeling the pinch from the current financial problem and delaying their payments for completed work our current franchisor Andy Bruvels has offered so much support to make sure we get through any tough times and is always happy to help with any problems we run into along the way.

His support has been fantastic and reinforces why we made the decision in the first place to purchase a Jims Fencing franchise.

Thank you Andy, Steve and Anna.