Doug Walton Finds Success as Franchisee with The Designery

Doug Walton's journey to becoming a successful franchisee with The Designery, a home design and remodeling franchise that specializes in creating customized cabinetry and interior solutions for residential spaces, is a testament to his adaptability and entrepreneurial spirit. With a background spanning over 30 years in organizational change consulting and management consulting, and prior experience as a computer engineer and tech writer in Silicon Valley, Walton made a significant career shift that has led him to a rewarding venture as a business owner.

After moving to Salt Lake City with his wife, Walton began contemplating the next phase of his career. It was this introspection that ultimately led him to explore franchising opportunities with The Designery. “Someone reached out to me from Lisa Welko's organization, [Integrity Franchise Group], and after sitting on it for about a month and a half, I decided to see what she had to say,” Walton said.

Welko’s extensive knowledge and background in franchising provided Walton with invaluable insights, and her guidance was instrumental in his decision-making process. “She was able to provide that view from experience,” he said, “which helped both in terms of the discovery process for selecting one, but also what to think about when you have one.”

Franchise selection process

Ultimately, it was Walton’s long-standing interest in home remodeling and design that drew him to The Designery. “I’ve been interested in home design, home remodeling, cabinetry and things more as sidelines and hobbies up to this point,” he said. “I shopped the idea around to a little wider circle of the family members who I wanted to potentially engage in the business and, pretty resoundingly, they all jumped on The Designery as the one that they saw themselves in.”

Walton’s experience with The Designery has been overwhelmingly positive, particularly during the training phase. “They have a fairly extensive learning management system,” he said, with a shout-out in particular to the brand’s corporate staff. “There’s the marketing manager, the brand president, the operations manager — all responsive and able to give us their experience.”

Choosing The Designery was also a strategic decision based on the franchise’s size and growth potential. “We picked them in part because I wanted to pick one that was near the ground up,” Walton said. “They’re a fairly new franchise, but big enough that they’ve got resources and can handle scaling.” This balance allowed Walton to avoid the pitfalls of being “a cog in the corporate machine” while still benefiting from a proven business model.

Future expansion plans

Looking ahead, Walton has “big, audacious goals” for The Designery in Salt Lake City. With multiple territories in the Salt Lake Valley, Walton aims to expand significantly. His vision includes creating a lasting and sustainable business that his family can continue to grow. “I do hope to grow it to the extent possible that might involve The Designery alone,” he said, “or maybe a vertical addition to some other HomeFront brand.”

Walton’s journey from Silicon Valley to franchising with The Designery is a remarkable example of how embracing change and pursuing one’s passions can lead to new and fulfilling career opportunities. His story underscores the importance of finding the right support and making strategic decisions to achieve long-term success.