20 | Richard Loader Yard upgrade a boon for customers The new yard design improves flow and eliminates bottle necks. Whanganui: Eastown Timber & Fencing REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT From small-scale timber yard selling home DIY materials like decking and fencing timber, along with farm roundwood fencing, and a small stand of nails, Eastown Timber and Fencing’s growth has kept pace with its reputation for the consistent delivery of customer service. Located on the eastern side of the Whanganui River, Eastown Timber and Fencing is unquestionably a destination business where DIYers, and contractors alike call to pick up materials for their latest project, or seek advice from the knowledgeable and friendly team. Two years ago the company embarked on a major upgrade of its yard, to keep up with the increased volume of product and stock on hand. With an operational footprint limited to 2800sqm, General Manager Matt Smith says the new yard design was about better use of the available area. “We’re creating space within the space we have to work with, and making it flow better for the customers. Customer convenience was the main driver for the yard layout, making sure it was functional. Everything will have a designated home and be easily accessible, and the flow around the yard will be improved so there are no bottle necks. It will give us more room to store product in the yard to deal with bulk orders when they come through.” Work to date has included tree removal and earthworks, and the addition of a large heavy duty cantilevered racking systems allowed for vertical expansion within the confines of the existing footprint, and made the yard more customer friendly. Permanent bins for roundwood farm fencing are also being put in, with everything given a designated spot in the yard so that contractors can come in the morning, load their trailers with the posts and battens and carry on to the job. “There are probably three more major stages to go and will include another upgraded racking system. We’re currently utilising an old railway building that is taking up a huge amount of space and will be demolished. That will open up quite a bit more yard footprint, enabling us to increase our hardware store to almost twice the size. Currently encompassing 120sqm, the hardware store displays and sells all the components that complement the product range offered in the yard. We’re also looking at putting in more dry-storage and possibly a manufacturing workshop. While all the work is going on, we also need to maintain a fully operational yard, with high demand. Trying to coordinate all this work with customers coming through the yard and stock moving around has been a challenge and took a fair bit of planning. That’s why we’ve broken it down into stages, doing one project at a time to minimise disruption.” Matt acknowledges that the high demand from builders, has also impacted on the speed in which the upgrade project has progressed, and it is likely to be another 12 months before it is completed. In addition to calling at the timber yard for their materials, the company supports its customers by offering a delivery service and has two vehicles delivering to residential and rural sites on a daily basis. Focused on outdoor timber products like decking, landscaping supplies, rural and domestic fencing, Eastown Timber and Fencing has also developed a pole shed programme Your Business, Your Industry, Your News. Volume 6 | Issue 2 | April 2021 www.waterfordpress.co.nz ‘Excellence in Energy’ Taranaki’s Todd Energy will have a key role to play as New Zealand moves toward a low emissions economy. Page 8 Waikato farmers Dean & Ang Finnerty have expanded their dairy cow operation into a successful goat milking enterprise as well PAGE 10 Turning challenge into opportunity AUTUMN 2022 www.waterfordpress.co.nz Volume 6 | Issue 3 | July 2021 www.waterfordpress.co.nz Making waves Back on track New Zealand hydrofoil maker Armstrong is generating interest around the world with its high performance products. Work on the ambitious NZCIS facility in Upper Hutt is progressing well after Covid disruptions. PAGE 70 PAGE 10 Healthy delivery A new elective surgery facility in Hastings will provide a big boost to the region’s operating capacity. PAGE 52 Volume 6 | Issue 5 | December 2021 www.waterfordpress.co.nz Cheers Boys! YoungWellington irm3Māori Boys is creating a buzz with it’s ground-breakingWai Manuka natural beverage. PAGE 45 Passion and pride New Plymouth’s Energyworks has forged a strong reputation in 50 years of business. PAGE 64 Seaview upgrade CentrePort’s SeaviewWharf facility is set for a major upgrade to bring it up to international standards. PAGE 14 businesscentral Each edition priority delivered to your door. i i i i li . www.waterfordpress.co.nz/subscriptions . . . 03 983 5525 Stay informed; we work with business owners and decision-makers across all economic sectors, pro iling their success. i ; i i i i - ll i , ili i . and does kit set farmsheds, which Matt says is going from strength to strength. But when it comes to the real key to the company’s success, Matt has no hesitation in saying that it is all about looking after the customer. “We have an amazing team here and everyone who comes through here gets treated the same. “We pride ourselves on that and get a lot of positive feedback and return customers because of that.” “Customer convenience was the main driver for the yard layout, making sure it was functional.” Freephone. 0508 782 753 | delfast.com PROUD TO SUPPORT EASTOWN TIMBER & FENCING
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