Everyday Supplies — Celebrating 25 years

From little things big things grow

While now servicing as far as Deniliquin and Wallan, Everyday Supplies started from humble beginnings.

Established in 1997 by Karen Bigg, the store began in a shared building with its parent company IK Caldwell on Benalla Rd in Shepparton.

Karen’s father was successfully running the agricultural business and was looking to expand its range to include cleaning supplies.

But Karen saw a need in the market for something more.

And so, the idea of Everyday Supplies was born.

“It was wonderful, we jumped in feet first, I suppose,” Karen said.

Karen had the business acumen but needed someone who knew the product and how to use it.

Immediately Ken McCarty came to mind.

Having had his own cleaning business for decades, Karen and her family knew Ken would be the crown jewel in Everyday Supplies.

He was offered a sales representative position.

Ken’s daughter and current co-owner of Everyday Supplies, Jac McCarty, has fond memories of her father beginning his journey with the business.

“They started in this tiny little shop and had a small skinny floor space,” she said.

“It had a row of chemicals, a row of toilet paper and a row of brooms, some scourers, cloth and not much else.”

The store was initially made up of a team of four, including Karen, Ken, Jeanette Sabri on sales and Gary Popilier on deliveries.

Karen said being under the umbrella of IK Caldwell, they utilised the contacts of orchardists and commercial businesses to help “get it off the ground”, but in the beginning, the team did what they could to recruit new clients.

Jac recalls her father going the extra mile to try and gain business — a bicycle also came in handy to conduct letterbox drops.

“They had a second-hand car and second-hand everything; Dad physically had to get out on the road and draft customers,” she said.

“He drove all over the Goulburn Valley and he literally just cold called, he said ‘this is who we are, this is what we’re going to do’.

“But it was literally from nothing.”

Karen said initially, they approached smaller to medium businesses to try and build clientele.

Having been a cleaner dedicated mostly to schools, Ken stuck to what

he knew and focused on smaller schools across the region who may not have been offered the same services as larger ones.

In addition, the business catered to commercial and industrial entities of orchards, caravan parks and the like.

Fast-forward nine years, and Everyday Supplies had outgrown its Benalla Rd store and warehouse.

In August 2006, the business made the move to its current premises at 28–36 New Dookie Rd, Shepparton, equipped with more space in the warehouse, a larger floorspace and to keep up with demand, a new Everyday Supplies branded delivery van.

As Karen and Ken were nearing retirement, Ken’s health began to decline quite rapidly and tragically, he passed away in 2019.

Jac and her husband Brad Hill took over the business in February 2019 with one main goal: to keep Ken’s

legacy going.

“This was his baby, whilst it was he and Kaz’s, it was always his baby and I wanted him to know it would be okay, it would be looked after and that we’d keep the customer service as number one,” Jac said.

“That was his biggest thing — you drop everything for your customer, and if they need it they get it now.”

Now with a team of seven, Everyday Supplies has opened its doors for the community, as well as larger commercial sites.

Karen said aside from the friendships made with customers over the years, one of the business’ greatest achievements was that it was “still going strong today”.

“They’ve done a wonderful job with it since, I’m very proud of them,” Karen said.

“And I’m really pleased it’s still in the family, it’s nice to see it still going.”

Ken McCarty and Gary Popilier with the new sign in 1997.

Ken McCarty showing off the brand new Everyday Supplies van in July 2002.

Nurturing a family business

Cleaning has always been a huge part of Jac McCarty’s life.

Throughout her school years, she recalls prominent memories quite unlike any other kids her age.

Her parents had owned a cleaning business for as long as she could remember.

“I spent all my school holidays at Shepp High running around the buildings cleaning,” she said.

“It was like a second home to me, I loved it.

“That’s where I learned about using a polisher and cleaning windows, what works and what didn’t.

“I sort of got a passion for it, I really enjoyed it.”

When Jac was 17, her father Ken McCarty became a part of Everyday Supplies and before long it became “his baby”.

Following her school years in the Goulburn Valley, Jac went on to work in roles in accounts, though she never strayed too far from Everyday Supplies.

Whether it be popping in to help out with a delivery or checking in on how things were ticking along, her love for cleaning and the business never faded.

“When Dad became unwell, we thought, ‘yep, let’s buy it’, because Dad had built this great company but I could see so much more,” she said.

“And in three years, we’ve grown it and made it more established.”

Along with balancing raising three children, and volunteering at their schools and sporting clubs, Jac and her husband Brad Hill took over Everyday Supplies in Febraury 2019.

Bringing with her decades of cleaning expertise, Jac now

covers a broad scope in the business, helping out wherever she’s needed.

From completing the ordering, purchasing and marketing through to helping out in the warehouse and with deliveries, Jac said she still

Staying ahead of the game

While Jac McCarty is the known expert in cleaning, her husband Brad Hill is the other half — making sure business runs smoothly behind the scenes.

Across 20 years, Brad moved his way up the ladder in a franchising company before becoming an operations manager at a national level.

Prior to moving to Shepparton seven years ago, he worked in Sydney for more than a decade.

Before Everyday Supplies, Brad said he never truly understood a core element necessary for a successful business.

“The biggest thing out of all that history at my previous employment — being corporate, being franchised — the main thing I’ve really learnt to appreciate and understand is the true value of local,” he said.

“The more you can support local, the more strength you get.”

But now, owning a business, Brad has sunk his teeth into becoming a part of the community.

His role in the company is as varied as it is fast-paced, each day provides something different but his end goal remains the same — staying ahead of the curve.

He described his role as being the business’ forecaster, meaning he handles the business management, looking at units sold, sourcing products when needed, producing customer quotes and when times call for it, jumping in the van to help out with deliveries.

Additionally, Brad focuses on the marketing of Everyday Supplies and bringing the business to its highest potential.

Much of which had been made all the easier with a smooth transition, Brad said.

“In my previous job I’d see businesses transition left, right and

loved the face-to-face aspect of helping out customers and building relationships.

“My day is never set and that’s what I love about it, because you come into work and you don’t know what you’re going to get.”

centre and as soon as it sells, the other people are done,” he said.

“So we were really lucky that Karen stayed on board to help us out, because you know, it’s 25 years, the amount of history there is huge and to have that continuation all the way through is paramount in a business, which is really good.”

Something for everyone

all in the name — Everyday Supplies

wide

Carrying an array of brands — with Tork, Whiteley, Oates and Caprice in the line-up — the store is equipped to handle just about any cleaning situation or emergency with its complete range of supplies.

All of which can be found on shelves in-store or online at Everyday Supplies’ website, with the benefit of free delivery across the region — reaching as far as Wallan and Cobram — with no minimum spend.

When Jac McCarty and Brad Hill took over, they promised to keep the business’ foundations

the same — though with a little improvement.

Everyday Supplies has not taken away any of its charm or initial range, but only extended what’s on offer.

“We’ve made it more open to mum and dad [customers],” Jac said.

“It was always a bit more commercial and industrial, now people can come in and get the stuff they need because sometimes supermarkets don’t have what’s going to do the job.”

The store stocks some ‘holy grails’ in the cleaning world that can’t be found at your regular variety store, putting the emphasis on value for money.

This includes the Halo Fast Dry Glass Cleaner, that cuts through any grime and slashes window cleaning time in half.

According to Jac, it’s a product

that sells “bucket loads”.

Another crowd favourite customers can’t go past is the three-in-one, bubble-gum scented Mr Bean Cleaning Chemical.

“It’s a cleaner, disinfectant and an air freshener all in one,” Jac said.

Along with an extensive range of multi-purpose chemicals and disinfectants, bathroom, kitchen and laundry-specific products, the store holds a huge variety of cleaning equipment.

And, Everyday Supplies now carries a machinery range — vacuums, polishers and sweepers are available in all different sizes.

Brad said the Hako B45 Scrubmaster was a game-changer for many businesses across the region; the walk-behind scrubber is not only a time saver, but a money saver in resources.

Community has always come first for Everyday Supplies and it’s not stopping any time soon.

Across 25 years, the business has been a supporter of local schools, community groups and organisations, also sponsoring a student from St Georges Road Primary School annually.

“My parents always brought me up about giving back to the community, giving back to where you are, giving back to your school,” Jac McCarty said.

“Dad was always on the board of places, he was always in school council.

“He always said, ‘if you give back, you’ll get something out of it, your kids will get something out of it — the community works’, so that’s what I’ve always done as well.”

Jac McCarty and Brad Hill have made it their mission to assist the community where possible.

In the early days of taking over the business, the couple ran a Goulburn Valley giveaway during COVID-19 which gave $5000 of vouchers away from businesses who had supported them during tough times.

Two years ago, on seeing Shepparton Foodshare’s call out for monthly partners, Everyday Supplies responded.

Greater Shepparton’s population experiences food insecurity at a 5.4 per cent increase compared to the state average, and Shepparton Foodshare assists in providing necessities to those in need.

Shepparton Foodshare executive officer Glenn Peric said the organisation received no regular or recurrent funding, and the continued assistance from Everyday Supplies and monthly partners helped provide a “critical service”.

“The support of local businesses such as Everyday Supplies contributes to operating costs, helping to keep our doors open and providing a safe and co-ordinated environment for our volunteers,” Glenn said.

After hearing about the work at Mooroopna Park Primary School, Jac was taken aback.

The school reached out to a number of businesses and community members by letter explaining its vision of expanding wellbeing programs to assist some

hand

of the state’s most disadvantaged students.

The school has implemented a free meals program for students and home-delivered hampers to provide families with necessities.

“I told her honest, raw, heartwarming stories that prove our wellbeing programs are making a difference to our students’ lives, so much so that both of us were close to tears chatting away,” Wellbeing project officer Lisa Hueston said.

“Jac came back to see us onsite with her off er of donation and we were absolutely blown away; we knew she was kindhearted but her generosity was something else.”

Everyday Supplies jumped on board to sponsor the school’s kitchen and cover the costs of the canteen’s cleaning supplies, with more contributions to be announced in the coming months.

“The contribution to our school and community is nothing short of extraordinary,” Lisa said.

“We are forever grateful for her kindness and generosity, and I just can’t wait to share the next part of our partnership later in the year.”

Family legacy continues

Stocking shelves, occasionally making deliveries and helping out where he can, Jaxon McCarty-Walker works casually as the jack-of-all-trades around Everyday Supplies and has done for almost four years.

As the grandson of previous owner Ken McCarty, Jaxon has spent more than his fair share of time at the store — memories he cherishes.

He recalls spending time with his pop at the store, helping him out and going along on delivery runs, along with causing occasional havoc.

“He really just loved it, loved serving customers and putting them first, making sure they can get the best experience they can,” he said.

For Jaxon, seeing his mum carry on the family business has been a point of immense pride.

“It’s been around for a while, so it’s pretty incredible to see it reach 25 years,” he said.

After completing a traineeship at a local school, Jaxon will head to university in 2023 to study business management.

He said the opportunity for the family business to be passed down another generation could one day be on the cards.

School principal Hayden Beaton, wellbeing co-ordinator Lisa Hueston, Adam Mohd Azhar, 7, and Ruby Sharp, 8, at Mooroopna Park Primary School.

Decades of knowledge

“I came for six weeks and

more than

Jeanette Sabri

Clocking up 24 years in January, Jeanette began her journey with Everyday Supplies filling in for another worker one day a week.

“I knew nothing about selling, I’d always done administration so I was a little bit hesitant,” she said.

Aside from having minimal experience, in the six-week period Jeanette became quite the overachiever.

“Ken made up this big chart for me, on it there was the problem and then there was which product to use to solve it,” she said.

“There was one product that was very multi-purpose and I smashed the record on that one because when in doubt, I thought, ‘yep, that one covers it’.”

She learnt the system, studied and used the products and became an asset to the company.

Owner Karen Bigg offered Jeanette a more permanent position.

“It was probably the best decision I ever made,” Jeanette said.

Now with more than two decades’ experience, customers entering the store are greeted not only with Jeanette’s boundless product knowledge but advice on best practice of using each one.

She can be found on the shop floor and behind the register, making sure all is running smoothly and helping customers with every qualm and query.

Aside from the relationships formed with customers, the family element of Everyday Supplies has kept her coming back to the store day-in and day-out for almost 24 years.

“I love it,” Jeanette said.

“In a big firm I feel like you’d get swallowed up, a lot of people are just like a number at some of those sort of places, but here, even for my birthday they buy me flowers and it’s just little things, it’s very personal.

“You feel like they’re very appreciative.”

Always room for more

Warehouse manager

Peter Walker has seen just how much Everyday Supplies has grown over his 10 years with the business.

The warehouse at the back of the New Dookie Rd premises has become more full as the years go on, although Peter said he could always manage to fi t just a little more.

His journey with Everyday Supplies began as a casual employee and soon turned into a permanent, full-time position.

As the warehouse manager, Peter is in charge of maintaining stock levels, taking care of receivables and distribution, and

delivering products across the region.

He said the biggest change in his time with the business was the impact of COVID-19.

“It was one thing that really threw everyone under the bus, but we were lucky I suppose because we didn’t have to shut down.”

Peter said through the pandemic, business became a “a whole lot busier” and is only just starting to balance out.

With a decade of experience in the company, Peter has weathered more than his fair share of storms and is looking forward to the coming years with Everyday Supplies.

Service on the go and with a smile

Coming on board as a delivery driver when the COVID-19 pandemic swept the globe in waves, Aaron Cordy didn’t know what he was getting into.

After leaving a permanent position at a supermarket, the first day in his new role at Everyday Supplies coincided with the beginning of another COVID-19 lockdown in 2021.

Aaron wasn’t sure whether his job would still go ahead but, being an essential service, he ended up hitting the ground running — or driving.

Although he had nothing to compare it to, Aaron said he was “flat out” in the beginning.

Starting a job in a time of uncertainty was made easy with the support of the Everyday Supplies team, Aaron said.

“It’s really nice to work for people that genuinely seem to care about me and just want to do good for the customers and do good for the business.”

Strong and efficient service are priorities for Aaron in his role, offering a hands-on approach in helping customers where he can.

He said his trips could involve “pretty much anything” — delivering to schools, child care centres, farms and orchards, along with providing goods to accounting firms and medical centres.

Congratulations

Hako Australia wishes to congratulate and thank Brad and theEveryday Suppliesteam for helpingtheir wide customer base satisfy theirdiverse cleaning needsoverthe last 25 years, and look forward to continuing to work with them into thefuture.

On the road again

Robert Wells has been with Everyday Supplies for almost three years, and in that time he’s travelled countless kilometres.

As one of the business’ delivery drivers, Robert is there to fill every client’s need —travelling across the countryside in the Everyday Supplies branded van.

With a span of more than 50 km outside of Shepparton, Robert’s schedule changes daily — one day it might be Rochester, the other Wallan or anywhere in between.

“Every day is different which is great, it breaks the monotony,” he said.

Robert previously worked at a large company, and he said the transition to a family business had been an impressive change.

“They’re a good company to work for, good people and they listen to what you have to say.”

Robert came into the business without realising just how long it had been running for.

One thing that really stood out to him on learning about the 25-year anniversary was the customer base that had stayed throughout.

“They’re really great with their customers and that truly goes a long way,.

“It shows you how good the business is when you have all those customers on your side as well.”

RENAULT TRAFIC

Always ready to help

Everyday Supplies prides itself on offering an individual touch.

Owner Jac McCarty says each person that comes in is guaranteed to leave with a sound understanding of how to use the item they’re interested in, whether they have purchased it or not.

“We’ve got all this experience, and we know what works and what’s right,” she said.

“And, yes, maybe you can go to the supermarket and buy a similar product, but ours are concentate and are going to last for twice as long.

“We’re also going to tell you how to use it properly so you’ll get the best value for money out of it and it’ll be a quality product, backed up with the best advice.”

Customer service has always been the highest priority for Everyday Supplies; the team understand just how crucial it is to get things done efficiently — and without having to do it time and time again.

“I know I’m so time poor so everyone else is too,” Jac said. “So if I can give you a product

that’s going to do it in three minutes instead of 10, then you’re also getting some spare time.”

In opening up the market to a wider client base, Jac said she had been able to follow her passion for making life just that little bit easier for others.

“I love it when young people come

in and they’ve just built a house and I can set them up and say, ‘well, you’re gonna need some window cleaner and some toilet cleaner’,” she said.

“We just love helping them set up their little houses and get going, and then they come back because, ‘that worked really well’ and ‘that

was really great’, they’re used to what Mum and Dad used to do for them, and now they’ve got to do it themselves.

“I’ve always loved helping people, it’s what I’ve always done and now I can with my own business — I can do that.”

Congratulations

The McPherson Media Group would like to congratulate Jac, Brad and the team at Everyday Supplies on celebrating 25 years in business, and thank them for the opportunity to produce this publication.

If McPherson Media can help you celebrate your business or event, please call us on 5831 2312.

future looks bright

Since taking over Everyday Supplies, Jac McCarty and Brad Hill have had a clear vision for the company — to be a mainstay of support for the community.

“The community has just been so good to us, especially during COVID-19 and even going forward now,” Jac said.

“We’re in a position to keep helping and I want to do that.”

The business is looking to help out across the region by becoming a “one-stop shop”.

Everyday Supplies is set to expand into stationery and other supplies in the next 12 to 18 months.

“Because we do so many schools, it sort of ties in with our everyday supply of everything,” she said.

“We are expanding into that side of things to also be a one-stop shop for rural people, too.”

They have also just recently become the Autralian distributor for Bradfields Fragrance Sachets and will be expanding this across the contry in coming years.