How It All Started
A long time ago, two small boys shared a bedroom. Neither really liked getting up to turn the lights off at bedtime, it caused arguments, and no one could quite agree on who’s turn it was. So, one brother came up with a plan, he rigged a pully system using string, it went directly up from behind the bed to the picture rail, through an eye hook, along the rail, down through another eye hook, and was connected to the switch with a blob of surfboard wax. A second string was T’d off so it hung below the younger brother’s bed. The system worked perfectly, and even at this young age, there was a belief that we could achieve whatever we wanted if we worked together.
Starting Small and Building Something Lasting
The Maintenance Guys was born in 2006, we had a small loan to buy a vehicle and some necessary tools; we worked out of the garage, and it took about 4 years to repay the loan and get back to 0. It was a major achievement and we celebrated by taking a day off to go fishing. We naively thought there would be many more fishing days off, being our own bosses, but in 20 years there has been a grand total of 2!
Stuart and I don’t always agree, one an optimist and one a realist, we can usually settle in the middle, but we have always agreed on how we got the job done, show the same care and attention as if it was yours. Do a good job today, charge fairly, and hopefully they will come back tomorrow. This simple philosophy has seen us survive where many others have fallen. If business was a race, we would have been the turtle, slow and steady, building relationships and our market share.
Growing Together Over 20 Years
The People Behind the Journey
I am immensely proud of what we have created, but what brings me the most satisfaction is seeing how we have touched the lives of the staff who have come through or are still with us. We have seen individuals grow into young adults, houses purchased and children born, whole families have immigrated and integrated into New Zealand life, forever changing their futures, all because of a company called The Maintenance Guys.
A very special recognition needs to go to our business mentor, Phil Pickford from Think Differently. He helped the company go from a garage to the business we are today, making strategy, budgets, systems and policies into everyday words, but also much more. Having a mentor by our side to navigate all the ups and downs of business life has been invaluable; we simply would not be where we are today if it wasn’t for Phil, so thank you.
Thank You for Being Part of Our Journey
And finally, to all our wonderful clients over the years, thank you for sticking by us. Your continuing support is the reason we enjoy coming to work every day, making tomorrow better than how we found it, may it continue long into the future.
Stuart and Warwick
Directors