| 43 T T Russell Fredric Family firm with a big heart Key wood products include roundwood, timber and plywood in addition to a comprehensive range of hardware and related products. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Rangitikei Timber Operating from small town Manawatu-Whanganui, Rangitikei Timber is a family-owned independent retail merchant with a big heart, supplying products across a wide area. Proof of the inroads the Marton company has made into the market is its fleet of five trucks which deliver to regions that include Northland, New Plymouth on the west coast, and Gisborne on the east coast. For destinations beyond these regions, Rangitikei Timber offers a convenient depot delivery service via a trusted freight company. Its key wood products comprise roundwood, timber and plywood in addition to a comprehensive range of hardware and related products. Rangitikei Timber’s roundwood includes treated timber poles, high density poles that meet NZS3605:2001 standards, posts and Domeloc — a stylish wooden fencing system. Timber products includes untreated and treated H1.2 to H6 radiata pine in a vast range of grades, sizes and profiles for a multitude of applications. Rangitikei Timber has a custom cut service and, working with its suppliers, can offer sizes not usually stocked by most other merchants which means timber up to 300mm x 300mm and as long as 7.5 metres can be supplied. Board products available are plywood, fibre cement, oriented strandboard, plasterboard and MDF. The business employs eight staff and is owned by Travis Quin who took over from his father, Gavin, in 2013. While Travis describes this 12-year journey as “up and down”, post-Covid the business grew considerably and this growth has been maintained due to Rangitikei Timber’s point of difference of being able to sell lower priced products than its competitors, especially national chains. “We are a discount seller that offers a slightly lower quality product; we offer cheaper alternatives compared to the big box stores. “Because of that, in the current market people are looking for cheaper alternatives so we’ve become more of an option for people when things are tight. I think that’s what’s helped us manage to sustain that growth and keep growing.” Although 2024 was still a tough year, this year is trending to be Rangitikei Timber’s best ever. “Not by heaps, but in the current climate to grow at all, we’re pretty happy with that.” As a family business Rangitikei Timber also has the advantage of lower overheads and lower operating costs. “We’re not aligned with anyone, so I think that’s quite a big point of difference. We don’t have to pay rebates or other costs. It’s another way we can save money and pass those savings onto our customers.” Rangitikei Timber is also filling an important environmental role in making available products made from visually downgraded timber amounting to thousands of cubic metres that might otherwise go to waste. Travis notes that not all timber has to be of a high standard, especially when its used for the likes of retaining, raised garden beds or non-critical applications not governed by standards or building codes. “We sell a lot of outdoor retaining and framing. They’re probably some of our biggest selling products. “We sell a lot of weatherboard seconds; there’s usually manufacturing defects, as opposed to knots. The timber’s usually good quality.” “Because we are a low cost operator and offer cost-effective options, that’s what keeps us going.” 0800 224 759 | sales@bbi.net.nz | www.bbi.net.nz Plywood Timber Proudly supporting Rangitikei Timber TIMBER POSTS & POLES Landscaping Supplies PROUDLY SUPPORTING RANGITIKEI TIMBER
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