People Power

Craig Burnham in his Mt Maunganui STIHL SHOP

Stihl Shop licensees enjoy a well-earned reputation for quality and service

Craig Burnham and Fiona White have years of business experience behind them, which is exactly why they bought a Stihl Shop outdoor power equipment business. ‘We chose the best brand in a great market to capitalise on our knowledge and experience for the future. Almost everyone needs to mow their lawn or look after their section, or pays someone to do it for them, which means everyone is a potential customer. And Stihl Shop doesn’t just sell equipment: they do servicing and repairs, too, making it a solid business which just needs a commitment to customer service to make it hum.’

Craig has experience with several prominent hospitality franchises, while Fiona worked for Air New Zealand. ‘When we moved to Tauranga from Wellington, I spent 18 months looking at businesses, even doing due diligence on a couple,’ Craig explains. ‘But the Mt Maunganui Stihl Shop was on the market after many years and I kept being drawn back to that. I’ve always loved the outdoors, I’ve done a bit of landscaping in the area, and I really liked the product.’

Stihl is one of the best-known brands in New Zealand and has been a successful supplier of outdoor power equipment since 1926. The brand has its own licensed network of specialist Stihl Shop stores to provide customers with the best possible advice and support, coupled with spare parts and servicing – additional revenue streams that Craig and Fiona see as a huge and rare advantage today. ‘In this industry, spare parts can be hard to come by – it’s often easier to buy something new, but that’s so wasteful,’ Craig says. ‘Better all round to buy quality and keep it in prime condition.’

Loyalty counts

Despite Covid meaning they haven’t had a “normal” year since they started, Craig and Fiona have found their Stihl Shop to be ‘all we hoped. The original owners had been there for a long time and are super people, so we bought a business and gained some great friends in the process.

‘Many customers have become friends, too. People come in and rave about our products, and we’ve even had customers selling equipment to other customers whilst they were waiting to see one of our sales staff! You know you’re selling quality when that kind of thing happens.’

And Craig says the whole Stihl Shop system reflects that quality, too. ‘This is a really professional outfit. Stihl are enormously supportive and knowledgeable, as well as being straight talkers, with very strong processes and guidelines. None of it happened by accident and the commitment to the products they sell and service is second to none.

‘I’ve noticed that many licensees and staff have been with Stihl Shop for a long time. There is a very high degree of loyalty, and I don’t believe that is an accident.’

Selected to succeed

Stihl Shop’s reputation for excellence has been carefully honed over the years by appointing the right people into the business. ‘Every licensee goes through a long process of due diligence, on both sides, before they join our family,’ says Mark Ballantine, Retail Network Manager for Stihl Shop. ‘This helps ensure everyone is on the same page from the very start. Once on board, we’ll train you and provide you with all the systems you need to succeed, just like Craig and Fiona.’

Stihl Shop has over 83 outlets in New Zealand with more opportunities for licensees to open new premises and for existing retailers to convert their brand to Stihl Shop. The investment required is from around $400,000 +gst depending on location and store size.

‘If you’re looking for a hands-on opportunity with a top brand where customers really matter, you can create a very rewarding business with Stihl Shop,’ says Mark. ‘Contact us to find out more.’

Advertiser Info

Stihl Shop

www.stihlshop.co.nz/own-a-store

Contact Darryl Perkins

P 0-9-262 4000 M 021 543 576

darryl.perkins@stihl.co.nz