When Queensland coal miner Nick Roth got fed up with spending his days underground, he looked at his brother’s experience with niche cleaning and restoration specialists AllAces and liked what he saw.

“In mining we had had some close calls, which were quite scary, and I needed to do something different. When the opportunity arose to help take the business into New South Wales, I jumped at the opportunity,” Nick says.

While knowing the roof wouldn’t cave in while he was working was a major drawcard for Nick, the particulars of the brand really appealed.

“I am a people person, I love dealing with clients, and I enjoy the investigative element of the work too,” he explains.

He also loved managing director James’ mission for AllAces to strive to be the leading specialty cleaning and restoration business across Australia.

So he headed off to Sydney, with cleaning equipment and a van, and started the interstate expansion.

Covid lockdown was the first challenge, but it also brought with it opportunity – Nick was on hand for essential Covid decontamination services.

A robust business with diverse services

Since then he has built up a strong reputation for good quality services and today the Sydney business is a five-vehicle, 15 person operation.

Business comes from home owners, commercial sites, from real estate agents, strata companies, hygienists who approve some regulations-driven jobs, and government agencies.

The services on offer range from everyday mould and lead dust removal in residential properties to cleaning out a hoarder’s home to methamphetamine decontamination, emergency restoration after floods or fire, and trauma site clean-ups.

“We’ve done decontamination of cars, houses and units after a drugs bust, we’ve been in homes after a death,” Nick reveals.

As he points out, dramas happen at all times of day and night, so AllAces operates a 24-hour service, with a roster for after-hours work with commission.

Some of the tasks are emotionally demanding and it’s an AllAces policy that cleaning technicians can choose whether or not to take the tougher call outs.

“No-one is required to do a particular job, and if they do take it on, we check in with them afterwards,” Nick says.

“I had to attend a 1am callout the other day, and it can be quite emotional.”

Empathy and people skills are paramount

The balance to this is the positive impact AllAces services can have on clients.

“We’ve got emails and Google reviews from hoarders who thank us for turning their lives around, and giving them back their home. That’s why we do what we do,” he says.

Good customer service skills, being a people person, and empathy are essential traits for anyone taking on this business, he says.

“Some of our clients have medical issues, have been in domestic violence situations, or live in squalor. You need to have empathy. And you need to exceed expectations and standards,” he says.

“I came to AllAces knowing nothing about the business. It offers great training on techniques and processes; what you have to bring are the soft, personal skills.”

Nick chooses to be out on the front line while driving the business as general manager.

AllAces has huge potential

“I’m a strong believer in leading by example,” he says. “Sometimes if I do an inspection, I do the job. Other times I might be on the phone or working with the three office staff.”

Every job requires an inspection and a quotation, and Nick loves to liaise with clients. “I like to have my finger on the pulse,” he says.

As GM he’s leading the team to meet its daily targets, and analysing the revenue to spot ways to boost efficiency and lower costs.

“We know our bottom line, and we have weekly, monthly and quarterly targets and meetings, and we get lots of guidance from AllAces HQ through business analytics, hands-on leadership, purchasing, recruitment and people engagement, marketing, and of course the Aces Academy. There’s a real together, team feeling.”

A centralised accounts team pays any subcontractors and suppliers, while the Sydney office invoices on a day to day basis.

Revenue comes from 20 to 30 jobs a week, ranging from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands.

Now in his fourth year with AllAces, Nick loves the diversity and challenge of each day.

“You never know what the day holds,” he says.

He also enjoys the ability to work from home if necessary to accommodate his young family’s needs. 

And he loves the brand and the business so much he’s eyeing up a franchise opportunity.

“One hundred per cent I want to buy in to AllAces. This business is just scratching the service, there’s so much potential,” Nick says.