Katy Gennai worked at a Bedshed store prior to investing in a franchise three years ago, so she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her business. 

While Katy admits she never had a desire to open her own business, when the opportunity arose she decided to jump on it.

“I never harboured a dream of opening my own business. I had always been fortunate to work for great bosses, so it was never a consideration.

“A few years ago the opportunity to purchase a Bedshed franchise came up and I decided to take the plunge. A big part of the appeal was joining a strong brand and benefiting from access to an experienced management team and group buying power – benefits that you simply don’t get if you fly solo,” she says.

Katy explains her decision to invest in Bedshed was driven by the fact she was already familiar with the company.  

“I worked for a Bedshed store prior to buying my store, so I had the opportunity to see how the group worked. I knew that they had plans to become bigger in the near future.”

A day in the life

Katy spends her days both on and off the showroom floor. “I try to spend as much of my day out on the floor selling – this is what I am most passionate about. I am also able to offer other staff members a hand in closing a deal if they need it.

“Unfortunately I also need to spend a lot of time in the back office doing paperwork. There are always accounts to be paid, advertising to be planned. The days always seem to fly by before you realise it is home time,” adds Katy.

Franchisor support

Katy says she was initially surprised by the support offered by head office, and she subsequently turns to them when she requires assistance.

“Working in a store prior to buying my own, I really haven’t had any additional training. I always turn to the franchisor if I need any advice on finance or assistance to help my business grow.”

Promoting the business 

Katy promotes her business in the local community through traditional forms of marketing as well as sponsorships, and she says word of mouth is very effective.

“I do a lot of additional local advertising in my local area. I also sponsor smaller groups throughout the year. This always helps in getting your name known in the local area.

“Most importantly we offer excellent customer service, and rely on our customers to tell their friends and family about us. We often get people coming back to buy additional pieces or to refer people back to us.”

Past, present,  future

Katy says franchising has afforded her more flexibility and the opportunity to spend more time with the family. “It has certainly changed my life for the better. My family is one of the main reasons why I have my own business. I was inspired by them and wanted to give them a better life. 

“I have a great work/life balance and can take time off to enjoy quality family time when I want to. I also have my husband and one of my sons work in the business with me, so I am lucky enough to be able to spend more time with them.”

Unsurprisingly, Katy does not intend to leave the Bedshed brand anytime soon, and she hopes her store will continue to grow and prosper. 

“My goal for the business is to grow it as much as I possibly can. I want to give as many customers as possible a positive experience when they are purchasing with us. One day I may choose to have a second store,” she says.