Meet Justin Prittie and Greg Quaile, Koala Insulation franchisees in the Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo Area
Justin Prittie and Greg Quaile were not new to business ownership when they met. In fact, they met because of a franchised business. Justin had opened his TWO MEN AND A TRUCK franchise in the Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo region in May 2012. Greg and his wife owned Subtly You, an independent business in Kitchener-Waterloo that focused on anti-aging skin care and cosmetics.
The two first hit it off when Justin’s TWO MEN AND A TRUCK franchise helped Greg move, and quickly became close friends. Naturally, they spoke about business, and figuring that “two heads are better than one,” they decided to go in together on a Koala Insulation franchise in their area.
Despite Koala’s recent introduction to Canada, they found during their research and discovery process that the head office team was well-equipped to support them with an operation that was practically turnkey. Plus, the brand had amassed more than 400 locations across North America in only four years of operation, and they saw this as a solid success story to get into business with.
Down in Melbourne, Florida, at the corporate headquarters for Koala Insulation USA, the two completed their initial training. Supplier partners even stepped up and offered some of the training and certification that Justin and Greg would need, including a spray foam insulation certification that is mandatory in Canada.
This process truly reflected that common saying about franchising: being “in business for yourself but not by yourself.” With all this support behind them, by October 2024, the pair was ready to go.
Justin feels like Koala is a good fit, and shares that he loves franchising and all the benefits that come with it.
For instance, the company’s large presence in the U.S. gives them a base with which to leverage their marketing in Canada, taking what the company is doing down south and sharing it with the northern market. In Justin and Greg’s eyes, Canada had a couple large players but was a rather fragmented market, and before Koala, no one was really franchising in the insulation industry.
To them, the market was ripe for a professional insulation company who fulfilled their services with sophistication and consistency. They began focusing on customer service, delivering on what they advertise and doing it well.
Greg enjoys being part of a franchise system—the consistent focus on execution and ensuring that franchisees are meeting their customers’ expectations each and every day. That’s what they call the “moment of truth.”
As for Justin, he expects that as the brand continues to grow and gain market share, that they’ll be known as a reputable, professional, and courteous service. He sees a future where the brand supports a whole Koala colony of Canadian franchisees, as they establish Koala Insulation in Canada.
Learn more about franchising with Koala Insulation
