30 | Company meeting market demand Benefits come from being a small family-owned-and-operated business. New Plymouth - New Plymouth Towing T T Sue Russell REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Arriving back in New Zealand from Perth in 2017, hard-working couple Gareth and Michelle Wilmshurst took over the reins of an existing business, New Plymouth Towing, which was established in 2000. “To cut a long story short, my husband was putting in massive hours in Western Australia, as was I, and we just came to the decision that if we’re working this hard, we may as well be working for ourselves,” says Michelle. Acknowledging there was a lot of stress when they first took over the business, having never owned a company before, Michelle says there was a huge sense of excitement in making something of their own. “When we bought the company we started with six trucks and have grown to eight trucks, made up of slide-deck tow trucks that carry up to five tonne and some semi-trailers that carry everything from wrecks to brand-new cars, caravans and motorhomes, along with a six-car carrier.” Pivotal to their success has been the ability to diversify and read the market in terms of what equipment and service offering is in demand. While there are some larger companies that provide long-haul transporting, Michelle says equally, benefits come from being a small family-owned-and-operated business. “It’s our name and reputation on the line and that is why we strive to offer a high-quality service. People know that when they phone there is always an option to speak directly to the owner or our friendly office staff, and with the diversity of equipment we now have, there’s something we can offer for every type of job.” To extend the company’s services, Michelle says they are keen to offer more off-road recovery work using their skid steer machine. “With summer coming on and people getting stuck on beaches, and with more traffic on the road and the increased chance of accidents, we have the equipment to assist.” Purchasing a skid steer with the in-house fitting of a winch box comprising of two winches has meant it is perfectly suited to local conditions and uses. Both Gareth and Michelle hugely value the staff they have, many of whom have been with them since they purchased the business. Given this history, Michelle says, they have the skills and experience to tackle challenging transporting, towing and recovery projects. “With specialised equipment, in-house training is neccesary to ensure the proper and safe use of equipment. “This also creates job opportunities to bring the younger generation with no experience into the industry.” Michelle keeps busy with a range of tasks to ensure the team are well supported and projects run smoothly. With a 24/7 recovery division, it is essential, she says, that the equipment and team are ready when the call comes through. Long-haul work takes the team from New Plymouth to Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington and everywhere in between, so there’s plenty of variety of work for the team. “I think we’re doing really well at this time. We’re certainly operating in a challenging sector, with a tight economy, people not spending as they once did, all the costs involved in keeping a fleet on the road and our road conditions, but both Gareth and I are proud of what we’ve achieved to date.” They greatly value their team of drivers and the culture of the business that’s evolved over the years. “It’s one thing to have top equipment, but it’s our team that really shine. We value their contribution enormously.” 06 758 6100 or 027 452 6729 www.corsontyres.co.nz Proudly supporting New Plymouth Towing Whether you need a new set of tyres or related repairs and maintenance, we are your one-stop shop! Heavy Mechanical Trucks & Trailers Diggers & Dozers COF Repairs & Maintenance Cars & Light Commercial Proudly supporting New Plymouth Towing 027 229 7942 99 Blake Street, Waitara
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