August 26, 2026
Seal-A-Fridge Franchise Owner Story – Adam Hopwood
Adam Hopwood, owner of Seal-A-Fridge Gippsland, shares how he added a Seal-A-Fridge franchise to his established appliance repair business, creating opportunities for both businesses to complement each other.
Rather than starting a completely separate venture, Adam saw an opportunity to expand the services he could offer existing customers while building on his experience in appliance repairs.
In this episode of Reality Bites Franchising, Adam discusses the practical challenges of integrating a franchise into an existing business, building a reliable team, improving systems and processes, and creating greater flexibility to spend time with his family.
He also shares his approach to hiring, managing customer relationships and preparing both businesses for future growth.
Key takeaways
- How Adam Hopwood added a Seal-A-Fridge franchise to his established appliance repair business.
- Why the Seal-A-Fridge franchise complemented his existing services and created opportunities with current customers.
- What managing two complementary businesses involves, from technicians and customer relationships to daily operations.
- Why Adam prioritises personality and attitude when hiring, believing technical skills can be taught.
- How building a capable team has helped him step back from day-to-day operations and spend more time with his four children.
- Why documenting business systems and processes is important for supporting future growth.
- How regular team meetings help strengthen communication, accountability and company culture.
- What Adam has learned about balancing business growth, customer expectations and family life.
Episode timestamps
0:00 – Introduction to Adam Hopwood, Seal-A-Fridge Gippsland franchise owner
0:30 – How Adam became involved with the Seal-A-Fridge franchise
1:06 – Why Seal-A-Fridge was a natural addition to his existing appliance repair business
2:08 – Adam's background and experience in appliance repairs
3:54 – Using the Seal-A-Fridge van to promote the business
4:38 – The technical challenges of adding a franchise to an existing business
6:18 – Building a team that allows the owner to step back from daily operations
8:03 – Managing business stress and maintaining work-life balance
10:30 – Taking over the family appliance repair business
11:48 – Developing better business systems and documented processes
12:43 – Building company culture through regular team meetings
14:28 – Hiring the right people for the right roles
15:00 – Managing customer complaints and business challenges
16:20 – Planning the next stage of business growth
17:00 – The opportunities of adding a franchise to an existing business
18:00 – How COVID influenced the direction of Adam's business
18:30 – Adam's experience with the Seal-A-Fridge franchise model
