34 | JOINERY T T Karen Phelps Caring for the heart of the home Booths Transport Reception. Tweakit Joinery Solutions Vaughn and Nicky Tongs established Tweakit Joinery Solutions as a mobile joinery repair and alteration business in early 2014, primarily serving private home and rental property owners in the Manawatu region. ‘Caring for the heart of the home’ has been their mission statement from the beginning and this is no more evident than the many positive 5 star google reviews they have received over the years. “Initially we started out as a service based business but it didn’t take long before I had to bring more staff on to meet the demand. Including, an apprentice and then a full time joiner to manufacturing the re-face components and basic cabinetry units,” says Vaughn. In 2020 due to unfortunate circumstances regarding factory location, they found ourselves having to reconsider their business future and direction. Choosing to back themselves they stepped into the manufacturing space, establishing a new modern CNC based joinery factory. In addition to their already well recognised customer focused service, they now manufacture and install full joinery solutions. “The timing couldn’t have been better and worse all at the same time,” Vaughn says. “With Covid hitting and all the changes and uncertainty that came with it, having the ability to adapt and respond meant we could fall back on our service based work as well as manufacturing to meet the needs and/or restrictions.” However, 2023 marked a significant time in the company’s journey. “We were commissioned by Booths Transport to design a unique solution for their new head office reception and boardroom spaces. One that reflected their trucks and company image. This project won the Master Joiners Federations regional award 2023 and put us on the map as a joinery business.” Vaughn says market conditions haven’t been easy. Two years on and the industry is still being hit hard. “Some say it’s the worst they have seen in 30-40 years, however we still have a good level of work coming through to keep the team busy, due to the fact that we can now service commercial, residential, retail and the make-over markets.” When asked what he percieved Tweakit’s unique place in the joinery sector is, Vaughn didn’t hesitate to point out the 3D and walk-through design experience they provide their customers. Using the latest in rendering software they are able to bring what used to be boring old line drawings to life. High resolution images and MP4 videos not only capture the exact colour of the cabinetry and bench top materials, but also lighting, furnishings and all in the context of the space. “One customer was so taken by a wall clock our designer Trevor had included in his concept design, they went out and bought the exact clock. So effective is this experience that it leaves zero room for doubt.” However all this high-tech gear no matter how powerful can never compensate for craftsmanship. “We have built a great team since our humble beginnings 11 years ago. With full time office staff, production team, machine shop and assembly floor tradies to our ace installer it’s actually our people we are most
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