Waikato Business News July/August 2018

HAMILTON WINDSCREENS
Hamilton Windscreens
offering quality for 30 years
WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS July/August 2018 81
Hamilton Windscreens has just notched
up 30 years in business.
Ever-present for the full
three decades has been
co-owner Dean Holmes,
who started the firm on a memorable
date with all the eights -
8/8/88 - and has seen it flourish
since.
That’s largely down to the
strong emphasis on customer
service and quality workmanship,
says co-owner Marcus
Steele.
He should know - he started
as a 17-year-old apprentice 24
years ago, and, like so many
others, stayed put, eventually
buying a 50 percent stake in
the business, which offers a
comprehensive range of automotive
glass services.
These days, Marcus and
Nick Ashton look after the
day-to-day running of the
workshop side of things, while
Lisa Burroughs and Kate
Healey look after the office
administration.
About 10 years ago Dean
stepped out of the day to day
running of Hamilton Windscreens
and now concentrates
on his wholesale business.
Hamilton Windscreens has
always had a very family orientated
work environment, and
this shows in the longevity of
many of the staff.
A photo in the office shows
Collin Donker smiling broadly
back at the camera, coffee in
his hand and the sweep of the
Grand Canyon behind him.
Sadly, Collin passed away
almost three years ago while
still working for the firm, but
his memory is very much present
for the staff who worked
with him for so long.
“Collin came on board a
year or so after I bought the
business,” says Dean. “He was
a significant part of Hamilton
Windscreens.”
When Dean bought the
business, it was in Euclid Ave,
not far from its current site at
712 Te Rapa Straight. It hasn’t
moved far physically over the
years, but it has developed
enormously.
Some customers
have been with them
for the full 30 years.
Clients with a long
track record include
Porter Hire, TRT Group,
Car Dealerships,
panelbeaters,
electricians and
plumbers.
The first couple of years
were hard going, but as the
reputation for quality workmanship
and great customer
service grew, so did the business.
Fast forward 30 years and
with around 10 staff on board,
Hamilton Windscreens is one
of the biggest independent
automotive windscreen shops
in New Zealand.
One of Dean’s brighter
ideas in the early stages, and
certainly one of his more
colourful, was to brand everything
with the highly distinctive
purple that still marks out
their building, signage and
vehicles.
“I got a fair bit of flak for
that,” he laughs. But the memorable
colour has become well
known to many (common
phrase: look out for the bright
purple building on Te Rapa
Straight).
“I used it for our profile and
to make us stand out, which I
think it always has.”
Technology has changed
hugely over the three decades.
Dean remembers the “toughened”
windscreens, which created
plenty of the early business
for the firm because of
their propensity to shatter.
These days, the laminated
windscreens won’t shatter,
but will chip or crack instead.
Arriving with that technology
are rain sensors and camera
technology that are used for
lane departure warnings and as
a form of cruise control.
As for chipped windscreens,
Marcus and Nick recommend
getting on to them as
soon as possible to prevent the
chip spreading.
“We will assess to see if the
screen can be repaired first, or
replacement is undertaken,”
Marcus says.
They offer a same-day service,
and a mobile service for
those who can’t make it to their
workshop.
They can also deal with
insurance, speaking directly
to the insurer on behalf of the
customer and taking care of
any paperwork.
On an average day Hamilton
Windscreens deals with
Co-owners Dean and Marcus.
about 40 jobs, and on a busy
day cope comfortably with
up to 80. That could include
replacement, repair, or removal
for panelbeaters, and takes
in side windows, and mirror
glass as well as windscreens -
the full range of glass used for
vehicles.
They cover everything from
private cars, fleet vehicles,
trucks and heavy machinery,
along with boats.
Hamilton Windscreens
specialises in classic cars.
Those jobs typically require
more time, and for the hardto-source
vehicle glass it is not
uncommon to get these manufactured,
says Marcus.
Some customers have
been with them for the full 30
years. Clients with a long track
record include Porter Hire,
TRT Group, Car Dealerships,
panelbeaters, electricians and
plumbers.
They build up relations with
their long-time customers, who
will often stop in for a cupppa
while they wait for a repair.
“We like to think it’s a
pretty customer friendly-type
environment,” says Marcus.
He puts customer service
and workmanship top of his
list, and says the environment
for the staff is also important.
“You like to think that the
guys enjoy coming to work,
they socialise together, everyone
gets on.”
This is reflected in low staff
turnover, with many having
been there up to 15 years.
Marcus says the success
of the business must also be
attributed to the dedicated and
hardworking team they have
on board.
So what is coming up?
“We’re going to give the front
of the shop a bit of a makeover.
That will be coming within the
next six months.
“And obviously… expect
the colour purple to be part of
that.
“Finally, we would like to
say a big thank you to all the
customers that have supported
Hamilton windscreens over
the past 30 years.”
The Hamilton Windscreens team: L to R, Dean, Nick, John, Anthony,
Dayna, Regan, Penno, Lisa, Tyler and Marcus. (Absent Kate)
FAIRVIEW MOTORS
PROUD TO SUPPORT
HAMILTON WINDSCREENS
FOR 30 YEARS
Proud to be supporting Hamilton Windscreens
as they celebrate their 30th year in business
Phone: 07 838 2593 | Email: info@chungca.co.nz
Address: 39 Thackeray Street PO Box 9202, Hamilton 3240
BUSINESS ADVISORS - WWW.CHUNGCA.CO.NZ