Established: 1996 – 27 years

Location: Upper Hutt

Contact Name: Brett McKenzie

Website: www.soilsupplies.co.nz

Business mission and vision:
To provide honest advice and value for money results for people’s commercial and residential landscape needs. Focus on providing honest, friendly advice

“Landscape supplies – servicing both retail and wholesale clients throughout the the greater wellington region

We also manufacture all our own concrete pavers, edging and kerbing onsite”

Value for money, prompt service, positive attitude and advice. Always striving to “make it work” for the client and meet their needs however we can.
Finals of the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce Business Awards in the Small Business category on two occasions
Family business started by my parents in 1996
I always enjoyed helping people and finding results for whatever they wanted to do and to provide a service on the customer’s timeframe, not on the “we’ll do it when we can do it” attitude
When I took over the business, I was relatively young and had to work really hard to convince customers of my experience and knowledge
The challenge of building a reputation. I had to make sure I “walked the walk” and prove I was honest and trustworthy
E.g. when we provided materials in the early 2000s for the Legend of Zorro (multi million dollar movie) – filming at Shelley Bay – over time they would come direct and ask my advice for whatever project they were working on at the time
Maintaining a consistent supply chain when using natural products that are a finite supply e.g. things actually run out – finding alternative sources etc.

Learning to manage a growing staff starting off from 2 working up to having 16 in the team during covid.

Covid and post-covid were a huge challenge. The year after covid we actually did our highest turnover but we actually ran at a personal health loss due to stress and health issues worrying about the business, staff welfare, people being sick. It was a huge challenge to maintain our professionalism and core values while managing fluctuating staff availability.

Years of 2003 to 2019 we had a constant 25% increase in turnover each year and had a staff increase from 3 to 18.

Being nominated for 2 x Chamber of Commerce Business Awards

Most proud of the family environment that has been created over the years. Several staff members have been here for in excess of 10 years. We look out for our staff as well as their own families.
10 people currently – we previously did civil contracting, commercial truck hire and manufacturing our own concrete products but due to personal health issues had to make the decision to downsize post covid.
We don’t use contractors to deliver our services – everything we do we are self sufficient.
We offer in house training for staff to get additional licences – vehicle licences or compliance licences – company pays for this training.
Google Reviews – 145 reviews with a 4.7 average
Since downsizing I’ve been able to spend a lot more time with 6 year old son and follow my hobby / passion of setting up military museum.
Currently the business is heavily into supporting the set up of a community trust called the “M&M Military museum” which will be open for educational purposes for schools, community groups and members of the public.
We also provide products for community gardens and community groups

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