David Moore of in-toto Swindon had spent twenty-five years in the corporate world of telecoms before taking the satisfying step into self-employment two years ago.

Happily living in Swindon but tired of the long commute in his previous job, David chose to start a new career with the well-established in-toto kitchens franchise by taking over the Swindon studio, following the previous owner’s retirement.

“Taking over an existing showroom was reassuring because it had built up a good track record and we got instant recommendations so business got off to a flying start”, says David. “We sold two kitchens within the first month and took over ten existing orders. 

Choosing to buy a re-sale rather than looking for new premises also gave us confidence because we were able to see the books and evaluate the established business.”

David runs in-toto Swindon with his wife, Hilda, who is a part-time tennis coach. Although neither of them has been involved in the kitchen industry before, David started out as an engineering designer and has a strong technical background that has aided a smooth transition to designing kitchens using CAD software.  David believes, “Hilda and I have a good mix of skills that work well together.  Hilda has previous experience in HR and marketing and in-toto has brought us together in business.” In fact, David states his greatest satisfaction has come from leaving the rat race and working with his wife.

The Moores did a lot of research into different franchises by visiting exhibitions, talking to existing franchisees and investigating various business models from vehicle repair companies to greetings cards.  “The product was very important in our choice,” says David, “and in-toto kitchens are very good quality.  A big part of our decision to join in-toto was influenced by the people in the company too.  It has a strong family feel that appealed to us and we know the business has a reputation for great customer service from start to finish.”

Credibility was important to David and Hilda when starting their business and they felt secure in joining an established business with clear signs of growth.  Two years later, the couple have won a Neff Excellence Award for Best Regional Master Partner and are enjoying their new life together.