The Whitianga Hardware team – Hamish, Tony and Sharon
Sharon with welding tools department.
There is a gentle flow of customers coming in and going out. Most seem to know where to go and head towards a particular part of this large store. Others are greeted at the front counter for their initial inquiry.
Rows of neatly arrayed and catalogued items emanate a short distance the front counter, enabling customers to see in an instant a wide range of products, tools fasteners and small parts.
Finished and ready-to-use products, power tools and homeware fill the mid and back sections. This is Whitianga’s trades and DIY heaven, Whitianga Hardware.
Fourteen years ago, Hamish and Sharon Magee were looking for a business to purchase in Whitianga. Hamish’ background was transport and agriculture, and he knew quite a lot about repairing things and working with tools.
Sharon is an early childhood teacher but was ready to support Hamish and be of practical help with what they decided.
Whitianga Hardware, which is across the road from the Mercury Bay Club and diagonally opposite New World, became their business. It had already been operating for over twenty five years when they bought it. Hamish and Sharon began to add to the range of goods and develop their large store.
“We are a BuildLink store but without the timber,“ says Hamish.
“We operate independently and stock about 12,000 different lines of hardware, tools, machines and hardware related products, ranging from generators, compressors, pressure washers, mowers and weed eaters and brush wear, right down to the smallest screws and washers. The front counter computer system tells us the quantities and brands we have of all our tools and products at any one time“
“It’s a good system and we can adjust stock supplies based on demand. If a different size or material is needed, it can arrive in one or two days.”
Hamish and Tony operate the store six days a week. They know where everything is. Sharon assists with admin, customer service and stock when she is not teaching at Peanuts Early Learning Centre, a job she loves very much.
When asked, ‘What is the most common difficult request?’
“It has to be Vbelts and O-rings” says Tony. “We are a focus for DIY enquiries, for key problems and key cutting and lots of mechanical issues.”
“We are asked most days for V-belts,” says Hamish. “The belts run all manner and size of pumps and machinery such as compressors, chippers etc. We have a large variety of sizes and thicknesses. They are the most sought-after item. We can usually work out the size the customer is looking for, if we haven’t got it we can get it.”
Walking throughout this store for a DIY person would be like a child experiencing ‘candy heaven’.
The number of brands stocked is extensive – Makita range, Extol power tools and gardening machinery, Heron, Blue Bosch power tools, Hikoki, Kaiwaki, Hansen water fittings, Powerbuilt – professional trade-quality hand tools, automotive service equipment; Victa and Masport mowers, Toolware, Aegis Oil, Gartner Hardware – everything for gates, everything for welding -tools and products, Ceiling lighting, CRC’s – rows of these – general cleaning products, penetrating oils, cleaning automotive sprays, rust converters, washing products for industrial and car use.
One section that caught my attention were the woollen/possum jerseys made by Manawatu Knitting Mills. They were beautifully finished for outdoor warmth in a range of winter tones. The store had the full winter catalogue. This is a product stocked by R.M. Williams in Australia but was right here in Whitianga!
While I was in the store just trying to absorb the huge range and quantity of DIY goods, there was a constant stream of visitors, all on a mission.
- Looking for a 300mm long handled Phillips screwdriver.
- Errand for the husband – fasteners to attach a pipe to a wall.
- Masking tape and duct tape
- Gallagher Electric fence standards
- Another man knew exactly what he wanted and went directly to the right container of screws
- Another was looking for an O-ring.
“Twenty-five percent of customers don’t know what they want and they just come in and ask us. Others are very specific with the size and kind of tool or small item they are needing. Sometimes the customers have a good idea of what it is they are looking for but not sure of size or name; but when they explain the job they are working on or what the fix-it task is, then we know what would work best for their situation. People are grateful for the practical help.”
One customer added, “I generally come in to get things for my husband. I usually phone him when I get here. He knows exactly what he wants There is a wide range of products and the team here find it for me. The service is very good.”
There is a welcoming and workplace atmosphere right from entering. The wall behind the counter speaks of generous community involvement – annual presented framed photographs from the Westpac Rescue Helicopter service thanking Whitianga Hardware sets a tone as does their involvement and sponsorship of the local rugby and golf clubs. What is clear is that the service is attentive whether it is for one socket or screw or for the biggest generator or mower.
Thank you Whitianga Hardware.
