Shropshire couple excited to take on new franchise and aim to build on 'great 'legacy'
A Shropshire-based couple have begun sowing the seeds of success in business with the purchase of their new lawn care franchise.
Ambitious entrepreneurs Lora and Ryan Ordidge are running GreenThumb after swapping the corporate life for an inspiring outdoor adventure.
They will deliver a bespoke localised high-quality lawn care service and hard surface treatments to over 4,200 homes and businesses across Shropshire and Wolverhampton.
The pair have a good knowledge and understanding of the franchise model from Lora’s father Phil Peach, who has worked at Shropshire GreenThumb as a Service Manager for the past 20 years.
Born and bred in Shropshire, the duo have always dreamt of running their own business in the area they grew up in and where wider family are based.
Having been a couple since the age of 13, they married in 2021 and recently started a family.
Ryan will be operating GreenThumb Shropshire and Wolverhampton on a day-to-day basis, focusing on ensuring the business continues to deliver excellent customer service whilst aiming to further grow the business and expand its customer base.
Lora will support from the sidelines, providing her own expertise whilst both take care of their new child, Theodore.
The Ordidge’s have taken over the reins of the franchise from Jacqui and Ian Balmforth, who previously ran the Shropshire location for 23 years and Wolverhampton for 10.
“After more than a decade of working for large organisations, I was keen to run my own business in an industry I love and achieve the same level of success again," said Ryan.
"When Lora and I learnt that GreenThumb Shropshire and Wolverhampton were for sale, it was an easy decision to make.
"“We are taking on a great legacy from the Balmforth’s, both locally with loyal customers and being part of the wider GreenThumb network.
"We are also extremely lucky to have an exceptional team of employees who are all very committed and hard-working. Over time, as the business grows, we plan to expand our customer base and bring in new local talent to the business.
“We are now committed to building a business where we can continue to grow across Shropshire and the West Midlands and maybe one day our son will come and work for the family business!
"We are really determined to carry on making an impact in the area, and our aim is to deliver an exceptional customer experience for every customer and to ensure the community is at the heart of our business. In time, we would also like to get involved and support local charities and fundraising by building our own connections within the community,” added Ryan.
Based in Market Drayton, GreenThumb Shropshire and Wolverhampton covers numerous towns and villages within the Shropshire and Wolverhampton postcodes.
It is part of a national network of over 220 territories, many of which are franchised, providing more than 2.5 million treatments carried out each year by professional and caring lawn care teams.
Operating the fleet of seven Greenthumb branded vans from their Head Office in Market Drayton, Ryan and Lora will be supported by a team of seven lawn operatives and two administrative staff, whose main focus is to provide excellent customer service and consistently high-quality lawn care and hard-surface treatments to every customer across their two territories.
