Ram and Prem show unwavering ambition at 10-year mark
Ram and Prem Kumar recently celebrated their 10-Year Long Service with CrestClean. It’s been a successful decade for the couple who now enjoy the financial freedom they’d always dreamed of, but the journey to get here was full of challenges and triumphs.
Hailing from Fiji, Ram and his family moved to New Zealand in 2005 due to political instability. A police officer at the time, Ram vividly recounts the life-threatening incidents he faced during the 2000 coup d’état, prompting him to seek a safer life for his family.
When rebel soldiers stormed Ram’s police quarters, forcing his wife and children to hide under beds, Ram knew it was time to leave Fiji for good.
“That’s when I thought, ‘Ram, Fiji is not your home anymore.'”
The pathway to New Zealand wasn’t easy. Ram needed to gain an academic qualification to meet immigration requirements. He embarked on a four-year course in Quality Management, earning himself a Diploma that enabled him to successfully migrate to New Zealand. Once in the country, Ram continued his career in law enforcement, working as a Corrections Officer at various correctional facilities around the country.
Little did he know that a conversation with a former colleague would set him on a new path towards entrepreneurship.
“One of my best mates, Ambika Prasad, who I worked with as a police officer back in Fiji said this to me, ‘For how long will you run after criminals? If you want to have a relaxing life, start cleaning,'” recalls Ram.
“At first, I was not impressed, but then he showed me his income and flexibility of working hours. Well, this was something that I gave a big thought to.”
Sadly, Ambika passed away, but Ram credits him for introducing him to CrestClean and the business opportunities it offered.
After nearly 14 years in the Department of Corrections, Ram set out in a completely different career path as a CrestClean franchisee, and he’s never looked back. Expanding the business has been a family effort, but the hard work has paid off.
“My son, Krith, and my wife, Prem, were always by my side whenever there was a need to go the extra mile. Our daughter, Kristin, would look after our dog at night, which made a lot of difference,” says Ram.
“Everything fell into place as we progressed with expanding our business.”
Choosing to purchase a CrestClean franchise was a whirlwind experience, with Ram’s first customer being Oranga School. Thanks to the support he received from Auckland Regional Master Franchisee, Dries Mangnus, Ram could transition into his new line of work feeling supported.
“Dries and I had a chat, and I was confident that I could grow this business with the right mindset and attitude. I received a lot of support at the time,” says Ram.
Ram appreciates CrestClean’s clear communication and procedures. The support, proper training, and timely payments at CrestClean make it easier for Ram and Prem to focus on their work without worrying about administrative hassles, such as chasing payments.
“The support that we get is enormous, and we get proper training and guidance. Plus, the money is good, and we get paid on time,” he says.
CrestClean has played a pivotal role in helping Ram and Prem achieve their goals. Their son, Krith, has now moved to Australia to pursue his career, and his daughter, Kristin, has just bought her first home.
Ram and Prem’s income and smart investing have also meant they can give back to the community.
“I believe that we should give back to society when we can. This means giving to the disadvantaged who may not be so fortunate to achieve their desired goals,” says Ram.
“We believe that if people think like we do, there will never be any conflict, and there will be happy and kind people all over the globe.”
Ram is highly ambitious and we’re sure to see his success story with CrestClean continue to unfold. He’s set his sights high and hopes to become a pioneer in the company.
“As you know, success never stops, and we wish to strive to become the first ever franchisees with a million-dollar turnover.”
Dries Mangnus considers Ram and Prem standout CrestClean franchisees with plenty of potential still ahead of them.
“They are a pleasure to work with and I look forward to assisting them to double their business by 2028.”
