MEET THE PEOPLE WHO POWER US: COURTNEY FRANKISH

Tell us about how you came to work in this industry

I fell into it. I had a friend who worked for a local builders merchant, and he said I’d be really good working in that environment, so I went and worked behind the counter. I enjoyed it, but it was challenging the first couple of years because it is a male environment. I had to go above and beyond my male colleagues to win respect. But I love a challenge.

Times and attitudes have changed, and many more females are in the industry now, so I haven’t had to prove myself at Makita. Working for the manufacturer is easier and having ‘Specialist’ in my job title has helped.

So tell us about your journey with Makita

I recently celebrated my third anniversary with Makita. The company took me on specifically for the role of Product Specialist, but at the time, the role didn’t actually exist. So I worked as an Area Sales Manager for a few months whilst we ironed out the details of the position and the best way to get our products directly into the hands of the end users. This was quite challenging, especially on the back of COVID, but I was determined to find ways of working so end users could discover and learn about the benefits of cordless. I found the best route is through our distribution network, as they deal with the end users daily.

My role as Product Specialist is very much hands-on; I demonstrate our products on their behalf and help specify the best tool for the customer’s requirements. I need to know absolutely everything about our products. When I started, Makita ensured I was given all the training I needed to be a Product Specialist and has driven my development since then.

What do you like about working with Makita?

It’s the research and development that goes into the new products. Makita puts a lot of time and money into developing new products, and we’ve got some exciting ones on the way. I love taking new products to the end users.

I also like to problem-solve. Our extensive range means I can find the right tool for a customer when they’re not sure exactly what they need.

But I suppose overall; it’s the environment. Makita is like a family. Once you join, there’s an arm around your shoulder. I reckon if you chopped me in half, I’d have Makita running through me!

We understand you’re also qualified to use a chainsaw, how did that come about?

I wanted to learn as much as possible, and our in-house trainer put me on a cross cutting course which included cross cut maintenance of the chainsaws. I then went on a five day tree felling course, where I gained my felling licence. This was all driven by Makita, but obviously, I had a willingness to want to do it as well. It was tiring but great fun.

We do many arb (arboriculture) shows where we have a demo station, so I spend the day cross cutting. I’m always on the chainsaw; I really love it!

So if we ask what your two favourite products are and why, chainsaws would be No1?

Yes, I really like our XGT 40VMax battery powered chainsaw. A key feature for me, is that it has encapsulated nuts. Other saws tend to have plastic tensioners; the encapsulated nuts give you more control and allow you to tighten them yourself.

It has a fast chain speed, so you have a speedy cut, low noise and low vibration, which is so much more comfortable to use compared to petrol saws. You can also change the bar length so you can process bigger trees if you need to. These great features make it perfect for felling, cross cutting, and using as a chipper saw to process logs. I like to say it’s ‘click and go.’ You click your battery in and go, whereas with a petrol machine, you need to make sure you have the right fuel, oil mix, pull cords, air filters, and that it’s clean.

I just had a conversation with DART International (disaster arborist response team) who fly out to different disaster zones worldwide. They’re using Makita petrol chainsaws but really like the idea of portable battery saws as they’re easy to train people using them on the ground and overcome the safety issues of petrol on planes. 

What is your No2 favourite product?

I like the XGT Plunge Cut Circular Saw as it’s easy to use and has excellent features that make it really portable. In effect, it’s like a mitre saw in a box. It’s rail compatible, and you simply drop the saw into the material and cut it. Carpenters use it for worktops and taking the bottoms off doors. A great thing about it is that you don’t have to start away from the material as you do with a circular saw. So, for example, if you’re doing a sink cut out on a worktop, you can plunge it into the material wherever you like. It also bevels over so that it will do all of your angles.

I like it so much because I do a lot of college talks with apprentices, and they haven’t got around to using these types of machines yet, so it’s always a novelty for them. They love it because it’s easy to use but does so much. It’s an essential piece of kit for carpenters.

I’m going to throw a curve ball in and add a third product that we’ve just launched! This ties back to the chainsaws in a way. It’s our new 40VMax XGT Brushless Air Compressor. It’s mainly specified for pneumatic tools such as brad nailers but I see it as multi-functional. The compressor is portable, quiet, and incredibly light. I think agricultural people will use it for featherboard and reinforced chicken mesh fencing, as you can go out into a field with it without needing a generator. I also use it for my chainsaw maintenance to blast out debris, so it’s a good tool for the arb industry as well.

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working?

I love travelling; I’m very much an explorer and I like to go to other countries. I’ve been to many different places and am really interested in Latin America. I’ve back-packed in Columbia. That was amazing; I was there for a month and went to Bogota and the Caribbean Coast. I also trekked through the jungle for four days, found a lost city of indigenous tribes and even met a Shaman! Next on my list of places to visit is Peru, Machu Picchu and a desert oasis.

If you would like to book a training session on our outdoor products with our experienced team which can be held at your premises, or at one of our Factory Service Centres, please click here.