Business Rural North Autumn 2021

54 | Top service, top gear, top pricing A load of posts ready for delivery at Eastland Building and Farm Supplies yard in Wairoa. Sue Russell W ith a history in retailing building and fenc- ing supplies that stretches back decades and a loyal-to-the-bone commitment to Wairoa, in Central Hawke’s Bay, Eastland Building and Farm Supplies operator Ken King says the busi- ness has been built on three important elements – consistent competitive pricing, high quality gear and exemplary customer service. “We really value our customers. We do what they want when they want and how they want. We are a solution provider and people know if they come here, they are going to get just what they need,” Ken says. He is proud of how the business has evolved through that ethic and the team he has working with him and the trade has grown far beyond fence posts, battens and wire. Today Eastland Building and Farm Supplies provides the farming and local community with a range of products, including plumbing, water reticulation, tanks and the business delivers these just about anywhere in its two trucks or direct from the supplier. “We cover a large area from Hastings through to Matawai, north of Gisborne and right up the coast. We recently delivered a whole lot of poles into Napier because they couldn’t be sourced anywhere local and we have put posts and fencing material into the Fielding area direct from the supplier as well,” Ken says. Six full time staff and two job-share admin people, a couple of part timers, a driver along with a couple of school leavers who keep the place clean makes up the team, all of whom are capable of stepping in and assisting in a variety of ways. While the rural sector is well served, the building sector is also, with products for builders, plumbers, painters along with timber and hardware. Three years ago, another evolution for the busi- ness occurred when the Garden Centre opened. This offered customers access to bulk topsoil and mulch and bags of compost, along with the full range of gardening supplies including landscaping, pots and water features. RURAL SERVICES » Eastland Building & Farm Supplies On a day to day level Ken works on the business, ensuring there’s adequate supply of products. He will also step in and serve customers and source products for them. “They know when they walk through the door, they’re going to get what they want either im- mediately or in a short period of time, that’s why they keep coming back. This business operates in a very competitive environment so we are always looking for ways to improve delivery of exceptional service for them.” Ken describes Covid lockdown as a humbling experience, with a constant stream of phone calls from farmers. “Because their work on the farm carried on, we were able to provide them, as an essential busi- ness, with ongoing support in terms of filling orders for them to pick up.” The store would open each Thursday for farmers to get their supplies. Ken’s also put an emphasis on providing an effi- cient service, by extending the footprint of the busi- ness to enable customers to access stock easily. “They can drive in and park right alongside the products they want. Our next goal to progress the company is to go into manufacturing aluminium joinery. My goal for Eastland Building and Farm Supplies is to become the ‘supplier by choice’ of our customers.” Putting in long hours has worked as well, with 10 hour days through the week and Saturday morning open and Ken says the plan ahead is to continue to grow. “People ring us and we respond quickly with a great price and we deliver on our promise. We also stand by all our products and if there’s any issue we will resolve it.” 364 SH51 Hastings 06 878 9866 www.k9petfoods.net Proudly supporting Eastland Building & Supplies with quality petfood for hardworking & domestic dogs Specialist Manufacturers of high quality fencing tools & equipment Visit www.strainrite.co.nz for more information Flashings   Spoutings  Downpipes Ph: 06-867 1219 Fax: 06-867 1218 Mobile 0274 875 219 • roger@bjmoss.co.nz www.bjmoss.co.nz  10.5 Corr  Styleline  Triplepan 685  Baby Corrugate  Versaclad  Bullnose Curves  Flo Curves ROOFING MANUFACTURERS 269 Awapuni Road, Gisborne H autapu Pine is a proud supplier of quality posts, poles and piles to Eastland Building & Farm Supplies.