| 79 Taits Rural cast the net very wide The business now operates from a four-hectare site in Southland. Karen Phelps Taits Rural has experienced rapid growth since beginning in 2018 and now sells used farming machinery parts New Zealand wide and even internationally. “We get a lot of referral and word of mouth business,” explains company owner Glen Malcolm. “We reach around two million people a month on our social media channel. We’ve expanded rapidly and now have a team of seven. Three years ago there were only two of us. We’ve got a strong niche in the market that has grown and we’ve grown with it.” The business now operates from a four-hectare site in Southland including a hectare of yard space, workshop and around 1200 square metres under cover for warehousing. Around 200 farm machines come into the yard each year to be rebuilt or dismantled, creating New Zealand’s largest inventory of used machinery parts. Glen says the company’s success lies partly in addressing a significant challenge facing farmers: the difficulty and expense of maintaining older equipment. “Older brands can be hard to get parts for now. What we do means farmers can get extra mileage out of their equipment.” This focus on extending machinery life has created a diverse customer base spanning the entire rural sector including farmers, contractors, dealerships and rural engineers and mechanics. The business has also developed a strong export market, shipping What began as a one-man operation has grown into a thriving family business helping to keep Southland’s farmers, contractors and transport operators moving. Southern Mobile Mechanical, owned and operated by Korey and Morgan Parker, has gone from strength to strength since it was established four years ago. Built on a reputation for reliable, friendly and cost-e ective service, the Gore-based company supports customers across Southland’s farming, forestry and earthmoving sectors. After starting out on his own, Korey has steadily expanded the business, moving into new premises on Oreti Street, Gore. A showroom is set to open by the end of the year to meet growing demand. “It’s been a big step forward for us,” says Korey. “Our customers really value the personal service. It’s about taking genuine care of them and going that extra mile.” Korey brings around 14 years of mechanical experience to the business. After completing his trade as an agricultural mechanic he worked as a truck and trailer mechanic and for an agricultural contractor before founding Southern Mobile Mechanical in 2021. The business now employs four mechanics with Morgan managing the o ice and parts department. “It’s very much a team e ort,” she says. “We work alongside some really loyal customers who’ve supported us from the beginning.” Recent upgrades include new truck hoists to improve e iciency and safety. “We’ve replaced the old concrete ramps with column lifts,” Korey explains. “It makes pre-COF checks faster and easier and they’ve already proven to be a great investment for both our truck and tractor divisions.” Once the new showroom opens before Christmas customers will be able to call in to purchase Valvoline oils, truck parts, Supercharge batteries, bulbs, wipers, nuts, bolts and a wide range of agricultural consumables. Southern Mobile Mechanical continues to maintain its strong mobile focus with two mechanics carrying out ield work and two others operating from the Gore workshop. That lexibility means the team can handle everything from trucks and tractors to excavators, combine harvesters and cultivation equipment. “We aim to be a one-stop shop for farmers,” says Korey. “Any machinery or equipment they use we can repair or service.” The company carries out on-site repairs, maintenance, air-conditioning work, hydraulic repairs, truck servicing and pre-COF inspections, using top-of-the-line diagnostic tools and equipment. Keeping downtime to a minimum is always a priority. “We know how costly it is for farmers when machinery stops,” says Korey. “That’s why we focus on being responsive, e icient and maintaining a high standard of workmanship. We’re really proud of the skilled team we’ve built.” With expanded facilities, a growing retail presence and a strong family foundation, Korey says Southern Mobile Mechanical is well positioned to meet the needs of Southland’s agricultural, earthmoving and forestry sectors for many years to come. Family-Owned Southern Mobile Mechanical Keeps Southland Moving SOUTHERN MOBILE MECHANICAL LTD Proudly Supporting Taits Rural Oreti Street, Gore | +64 27 309 5809 | korey@smmltd.co.nz At Southern Mobile Mechanical we fix a wide range of Machinery, Implements and Heavy Vehicles. Being mobile we have the ability to repair and service onsite. Keeping You Moving Expert On-Site Repairs for Heavy Equipment • to page 81 RURAL SERVICES » Taits Rural Ltd
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