Sutton Express

May 2006

How dusters led to a 5-star break

A couple from Cheam have found true happiness after quitting their jobs in teaching and the health service to sell dusters, brushes and automatic egg toppers.

Linda Kirkwood, of Kenley Walk, left her job as a financial manager at St Helier Hospital two years ago in order to start her own Kleeneze business.

The company, which involves selling household products, was so successful her husband was able to quit his job as head of PE at Stanley Park High School and go into business with his wife.

Together their hard work has resulted in a company which has an annual turnover of more than £100,000 and has also earned them a free holiday courtesy of the parent company.

More important than holidays and financial rewards though, is the fact it has finally given them a lifestyle they always wanted.

Mrs Kirkwood said: "I love it, I love it to pieces. It is so different to what I was doing before it has completely changed us."

The Kirkwoods work as part of a network marketing company which involves distributing Kleeneze catalogues to homes and taking orders from residents.

They earn a percentage of any goods sold and are also rewarded by Kleeneze for any people they bring into the business.

In June last year their company was moved up to the gold level after they achieved a turnover of more than £9,000 every four weeks.

They were then handed a three week break at a five star hotel in Budapest as a reward from Kleeneze when someone they introduced to the company reached the gold level themselves.

"It will be brilliant because it's five star luxury and it's something we will never be able to do ourselves," Mrs Kirkwood said.