Despite being recognised as one of the leading CEOs in Russia’s hospitality sector, Jenya Jenkins was left feeling dissatisfied with the lack of personal challenge in her life.
Having been stuck in her comfort zone for many years, Jenya saw the opportunity of relocating to her husband’s home country of Scotland as the perfect time to build something for herself and enter the world of franchising.
October 2024 marks one year since Jenya took the leap and launched Kitchen Makeovers Glasgow West – a venture that promised the perfect blend of an established brand, ongoing head office support and the entrepreneurial challenges and freedom she craved.
Her strong ambition and drive have significantly paid off and, since collaborating with local kitchen fitter Bruce as her new business partner in August, sales have almost tripled in under three months!
“I moved to the UK two and a half years ago from Russia with my husband and teenage daughter. After over 20 years working in the hospitality sector, I was desperate to take on a new challenge and thought there was no better time than the present! Soon after relocating, I earned my interior design qualification from the British Academy of Interior Design – finally exploring my passion for home design. Although I was excited to step outside of my comfort zone, I still wanted something that would provide me with stability and freedom.
After much research, I learned that becoming a franchisee was the perfect opportunity for me – allowing me to be my own boss but having a backbone of support while starting a business in an unfamiliar industry and in a new country.”
Founded in 2018, Kitchen Makeovers introduced the UK to the future of kitchen renovations. As one of the home improvement sector’s most innovative franchise brands, Kitchen Makeovers has established itself as an exciting, highly profitable opportunity by identifying and leveraging a gap in the market.
This trailblazing approach, evolving with the demands of the sector, is helping franchisees provide customers with a long-awaited, modern, cost-effective and sustainable service up and down the country, breathing new life into the heart of their homes.
“Becoming a Kitchen Makeovers franchisee meant that I could utilise my passion for interior design without having to be physically involved in the fitting or construction side of kitchen renovations – allowing me to develop my creative and administrative skills. The franchise fee perfectly fit my budget and involved no commitment to a physical site. This was a crucial factor for me, as it meant I could work flexibly from home, which suits my lifestyle.”
“As soon as I started initial training, I knew I would enjoy the whole process. Co-Founders Matt and Will are extremely accommodating and super keen to help with any issues I may have. The line of communication between franchisor and franchisee is almost instant and I never feel like a burden. Instead I know they care for me and are eager to support my business. Whilst it was daunting to start a new business in a new country, it was reassuring to know that Matt and Will also took responsibility for my business – their high level of involvement meant I was never left to struggle alone.”
Kitchen Makeovers attracts both first-time franchisees and seasoned entrepreneurs looking to move with the times, thanks to an impressive infrastructure designed for scalability and a revitalised approach to customer experience in the home improvement sector.
Franchisees are encouraged to fully exploit the success they can achieve within their territories by building a local network of expert tradespeople.
Kitchen Makeovers’ approach of championing exceptional customer service is continuing to reap rewards in a sector that has traditionally delivered below-par customer experience. Through recurring income streams, low overheads, an impressive scope for growth and ongoing development, the opportunity for franchisees is huge.
“Since bringing Bruce in as a partner, business has excelled! His natural charm helps us to build personal connections with clients, creating great relationships and building the community’s trust in our services. Being an experienced kitchen fitter, Bruce’s support has made technical parts of the job – such as fitting, plumbing and electricity – much easier to deal with.”
“With Bruce by my side, I can now place my entire focus on the sales, admin, finance and marketing side of the business. I can tackle these areas during flexible hours, which means I can spend time with my family. In particular, on weekends we enjoy taking trips to the Scottish Highlands to stay in a lodge where we can relax within nature and leave feeling reenergised again.”
Kitchen Makeovers has established itself as a leader in a market previously lacking a cost-effective and hassle-free solution. With over 30 franchisees and sophisticated branding, systems, and operations, the company has filled a critical gap for homeowners. This commitment to customer satisfaction is reflected in nearly 1,000 glowing five-star reviews across reputable online platforms and an impressive average score of 4.9 out of 5 on Trustist. This focus on exceeding expectations is what truly sets Kitchen Makeovers apart from the competition.
Jenya and Bruce’s partnership is still fresh, and so their current focus is on increasing sales and maintaining stability for Kitchen Makeovers Glasgow West. By taking small steps to grow her business, Jenya has dedicated plans to partake in local charity and community projects as the administrative side of her business becomes less demanding.
In 2025, the pair’s sole focus is on growing the size of their business, with plans already in place to extend their current part-time fitter to a full-time employee, fitting kitchens daily alongside Bruce. Ultimately, Jenya strives to become the biggest kitchen renovations business in Glasgow.
“My advice for anyone interested in becoming a Kitchen Makeovers franchisee is to take the leap! Matt and Will are the perfect support system for anyone who has the passion and drive to start their own business but may be apprehensive of their own abilities. I would say to not try and do everything new at once – instead take small steps and they will inevitably lead to great success!”