Business North May 2021

| 91 Jalcon Homes Jalcon Homes is involved in building stand-alone homes, terraced housing, and multi-unit apartments in many areas throughout Auckland. BUILDING TO YOURS For Mike Syddall, General Manager of The Tile Depot, the connection with award winning Jalcon Homes runs much deeper than merely a commercial transaction . “We were drawn to each other as we both are family businesses and we carry the same family values and culture. It makes for a strong and enduring relation- ship,” Mike says. And as is often the case with a family business, The Tile Depot began modestly, with one little store and 23 tiles in 1995. Track forward 25+ years and the company has lourished to virtually a nation-wide footprint with 13 stores. “The old man started the business having identi ied the New Zealand market was seriously over-priced and that he could create a valuable price-point while still making a pro it to reinvest in the company. His thinking has proved spot-on in terms of how the market responded to what we had to o er,” Mike says. Mike’s been leading the company these past 15 years and he’s focused on ensuring there’s quality throughout every element of the business, from care of sta , concern for providing customers with a wide and a ordable range of products, and increasingly a nod to the environment. “I’m so proud of our sta retention. Many worked for my parents and now I have the privilege of working with them.” The market has changed signi icantly over time, from the days when tiles were considered the domain only of the more well to do, to being a serious option for entry level home owners and for those undertaking renovations and upgrades. “We liked the approach Jalcon Homes The Tile Depot makes it work took. Where other group housing companies were using vinyl and lino, Jalcon recognised the value using our products added to their homes.” And not surprisingly, over time there’s been a real personal friendship form between the Jalcon and Tile Depot teams. “It’s been a really cool company to engage with. We have that relationship where we can just pick up the phone and do great business together.” Investing in environmental gain has increasingly become a priority for Mike and the team, who have put their money with their mouth is by investing, through their Green Team, in the Trees That Count project. “We’re conscious that all our product is imported and that comes at a certain cost environmentally, so we’re always coming up with ways to o set this impact. There’s an exciting new project we’re preparing to unveil which has fantastic outcomes for our rural friends.” The Green Team came into being just before COVID came along and was the result of The Tile Depot investing in external consultants working through an intensive process of how the company could improve its environmental footprint. “For every container shipped to us we o set the carbon loss by funding the growing of an equivalent number of trees to bring back the balance. It’s one way we feel we’re contributing to positive outcomes.” When The Tile Depot re-opened following COVID lockdown last May Mike says it was surprising just how positive demand for their products was. He puts this down to being right in the ‘sweet spot’ in both the new housing and renovation markets.