Adding value to a value-add business

Background

With long family histories in the sawmilling industry, there’s sawdust in the veins of business partners Joe Lagan and Rodney McVicar. 

Yet in their two businesses - Buildpro and One Stop Deck Shop - they’re much closer to customers than to circular saws. Their mission is to take complexity and stress out of building.

Whether you’re a builder or developer working anywhere in the world (Buildpro) or a Kiwi home owner or handyperson who wants a deck designed and built (One Stop Deck Shop) they’ll put the bits together for you. 

They encourage all their staff to think like a customer, using their wood industry knowledge and a willingness to do the logistical hard yards. It’s an attitude they also want in their business partners, and which led them to dispense with a big four accounting firm in favour of Ashton Wheelans.

Challenge 

“Our business can be quite complex and we want people who understand our goals and needs,” Joe Lagan says.

“Right from the start Sam (advisor Sam Wheelans) got inside our business - he’s interested in everything from the supply lines and how we’re managing stock holdings to improve cash flow, through to where we’re going as a business. 

Outcome

At the first meeting with Ashton Wheelans Joe says they identified an anomaly in the inventory and accounting systems that had cost more than $10,000 over the previous year. 

“This is incredibly important to us – we know that if we have the best people in every role we’ll be a better, more focused business.

“And if we can save 10 hours a month tied up with the accounts, that’s time that can be spent with customers and staff. That’s way better use of our time.”