Kiwi Renovation Company – Refresh Renovations Becomes Global Giant - Iridium Partners
Kiwi Renovation Company – Refresh Renovations Becomes Global Giant
General News

Thursday, 26 December 2024

Kiwi Renovation Company – Refresh Renovations Becomes Global Giant

New Zealand-based home renovation company – Refresh Renovations,  founded in 2009 to tackle inefficiencies in the building industry, has risen to become one of the world’s largest in its field. With over 170 franchise operations across New Zealand, Australia, North America, and the UK, the company generates more than $100 million in annual revenue and has set its sights on reaching $1 billion within the next decade.

Jon Bridge, founder and director of Refresh Renovations®, explains that the company emerged after identifying gaps in the global renovation market. “The industry was fragmented and overly focused on price rather than process or customer experience. We saw an opportunity to transform it,” Bridge says.

While renovations are a significant segment of the building industry, they were traditionally handled by small trade-based builders lacking structured business models and customer-focused processes. This often led to inefficiencies and disputes. Research indicates that 30% of renovation spending is wasted due to poor planning and communication. In contrast, Refresh Renovations boasts a complaint rate of just 0.33%, far below the industry average of 20–30%.

The company’s franchise model is central to its success. Rather than recruiting builders, they attract franchisees with business acumen to implement their streamlined systems. “Running a renovation business isn’t just about trade skills—it’s about having the right processes, infrastructure, and customer focus,” Bridge says.

Refresh has diversified its services through multiple brands, including Zones Landscaping, Oncore Services, and We Sort It, with more on the horizon. The company has also expanded its operations to the US, where it sees enormous growth potential, particularly in states like Texas, which has a population larger than New Zealand.

Bridge highlights their investment in technology as another key differentiator. They’ve developed a proprietary IT platform called Control, designed specifically for renovation projects. This end-to-end system integrates project management, financials, and customer portals to ensure transparency and reduce risks. The company has even established a dedicated software development team in India to further innovate and embed AI into their operations.

As the US renovation market is valued at $570 billion annually, compared to New Zealand’s $9 billion, the company is well-positioned to expand its footprint internationally. “We’re partnership-oriented and focused on value creation,” Bridge says, underscoring their commitment to revolutionizing the renovation industry on a global scale.