BUSINESS SNAPSHOT

SP SHUTTERS, DOORS AND BLINDS

BUSINESS SNAPSHOT

NSSA Board Member and General Manager of SP Shutters, Doors and Blinds, Kathy Giliberto joins BuiltView for our Autumn Q&A

Kathy Giliberto General Manager/Director, SP Shutters, Doors and Blinds

IMAGE L:R - Owner/Directors SP Shutters Doors and Blinds; George, Kon and Anton Antoniadis.

Q.How did SP Shutters, Doors and Blinds begin? SP Shutters, Doors and Blinds originated as a single operator business out of a backyard shed in Northcote, Victoria in 1992. As the years have gone by, SP has evolved from manufacturing primarily roller shutters to a broad range of products including security doors and screens, as well as plantation shutters, indoor blinds and outdoor awnings. SP now operates out of four warehouses across Victoria and New South Wales, servicing thousands of customers every year.

Q.Tell us about the business and what you do.

SP is focused on providing complete window and door furnishing solutions for our customers’ projects. Our extensive range provides solutions for security screens and doors, indoor and outdoor blinds and awnings, as well as plantation and roller shutters. We manufacture and assemble our products on-site across all our warehouses. SP’s dedicated team of sales consultants can provide the best solution for any project and our incredible installers always make the final product look amazing

Q.Tell us about your team and staff culture We have a diverse team working across manufacturing, sales, operations, and administration support. We have a family focus and aim to make our team members feel supported and engaged with the business as best we can.

Q.What are the contributing factors to SPs development over the years? Has this reflected changes in the industry? People have always had a need to feel secure and protected in their homes. The growing urban sprawl over the past 30 years has led to the increased need for security doors and screens. To fulfil the growing demand for the Melbourne and Sydney housing boom, our operations and team have had to grow with it.

Q.What has been your biggest challenge in the industry? COVID-19 has been an enormous challenge for every industry, so changing the way we interact with our customers and making advances to combat the restrictions we faced during this period, has been something that has challenged our team. Despite all that, we’ve come out the other side better for it.

Q.What do you attribute SPs success to? 30 years of success is no accident. Our success comes down to our dedication in providing our customers with exactly what they’re looking for at the right price, and fantastic customer service. This goes a long way to developing a thriving business and a very happy customer base.

Q.What do you love about the security screen industry? Every project is different. Every customer is different. Using our intimate knowledge of the product and the installation to be able to deliver exactly what the client requires.

Q.What has been SP’s greatest achievement?

The quality and the quantity of the products available from our company and mainly the reputation we have managed to build throughout the years in the industry.

Q.Where are you headed as business? What does the future hold for SP?

While we look to grow as a business by expanding into new markets around Australia, SP is committed to staying true to our family heritage. The next generation of the family is emerging within the business leadership team, which gives our customers great confidence that SP will be here for years to come.

Q.What does the NSSA mean to your business?

NSSA for us means creditability, compliance, quality assurance to the customers and standardising rules in the industry.

Q.Why did you put your hand up to be a Board Director of the NSSA?

When you strive for excellence, you seek every avenue to improve yourself and your business. Being on the NSSA Board was important to us so that we too could have a voice in what was happening in our industry now and in the future. We need to be prepared for changes such as licensing, which for us is in NSW but not in Victoria. The other crucial item is formal training. This too will come and what better place to have a say about that than on the Board of Directors.

Q.If you had one piece of advice for someone just starting out in the security screen industry, what would it be? Use good quality compliant products and be upfront and honest with your clients.

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