Weti

* The opportunity

* What is/was the opportunity at hand for Kevin and Ricky Frankental when they decided to launch and grow Lemon Décor in 2007?

Lemon Décor is a business that started in June 2007 by two brothers, Kevin and Ricky Frankental, who saw an opportunity in the market and industry and grabbed it with both hands. They knew it was not going to be easy to make a success of the business, because so many new businesses fail. They knew if they want to make a success of the business they will have to be innovative and needs to think out of the box. They had to come up with something that no décor businesses give to their customers.

They started running the business form Ricky’s study, initially outsourcing the printing and installation of wall coverings to other companies in the field. They both had little to invest in the business, and had no external funding. Each of them invested only R10 000, but even that couldn’t get them down instead they went throw with their plans. Within the first six months they realized that they did not want to be another ‘me too’ business and that there is a need for extraordinary products and for installation for big wall coverings.

They saw that the canvas installation industry is dominated by men with bakkies which often results in poor work and leaves clients feeling disappointed with the product. There was a need in the market for professionals who can do that kind of work properly and knowing what they are doing. So the first big step they took was to employ their own installation team who were trained to do the job properly and be answerable to clients on site. That means that the clients have one company to deal with and the responsibility lies with them to get it right. They are part of a design that will be definitive in the new decade and they work 24/7 to maintain a foothold with their client and they are having fun inventing totally new and very different images for every job.

By doing the installation...