Zip Plumbing gets massive support from Taranaki

Zip Plumbing gets massive support from Taranaki

Locals working with locals is the secret to the phenomenal success of Zip Plumbing in Taranaki, says owner, Stan Juchnowicz.

“This is our second outlet in New Plymouth and we have had tremendous support. Basically it’s because people in The ‘Naki like doing business with locals and, while we probably aren’t real locals yet – we’ve only been here 10 years - we’re getting closer!”

Stan is opening his second New Plymouth trade store and showroom in Oropuriri Street. It opens on April 10.

It will complement Zip’s existing trade store and retail showroom in Devon Street, and Stan is setting up a third Zip in Hawera.

“Altogether, we have invested over $2.5 million in the Taranaki area in the last 12 months and we employ 10 staff across our three regional outlets.”

While being seen as a local is important, so, too, is sharp pricing, and Stan says Zip Plumbing focusses on high turnover of quality gear at low margins.

“Whether they be trade or retail clients, customers want good quality, good service and good pricing.

“We stock major New Zealand brands, we employ locals to service locals and we keep our margins slim to ensure good pricing.

“That formula works very well.”

Zip Plumbing stocks well-known brands like Englefield, Methven, Athena, Caroma, Aquatica, Marley, Greens Tapware, Rinnai and Rheem.

Stan says a key aspect of customer service is fixing things if things go wrong, and he tries to work with brands that share that philosophy.

“No one wants things to go wrong but sometimes they do and we – and our suppliers – always stand behind our products.

“A famous Kiwi retailer once said ‘It’s the putting right that counts’ and that’s how we feel, too.”

A former plumber himself, Stan started out on his own in the early 1980s. He quickly became frustrated with the service and pricing he received ‘as a young newbee’.

So he started sourcing his own products for his customers. Soon he had other plumbers asking him for the products he was sourcing and … now he operates 12 trade outlets and retail showrooms across the North Island.

“I’m just applying the lessons I learned when I was in the trade all those years ago,” he says. “Good quality, good service and good pricing doesn’t go out of style.”

While 75 percent of Zip Plumbing’s business comes from the trade, Stan prides himself on maintaining well-appointed showrooms and knowledgeable staff for the retail customer.

“My customers want a bit of comfort. They like a bit of sophistication. They want to be treated a bit special so that’s what we do.”

To celebrate the new store’s opening, Stan is having a major sale to give something back to the local community that’s supported Zip Plumbing so well, for so long.

“We were asked to set up shop here 10 years ago by a local New Plymouth plumber whom we supplied from our Wellington shop. He liked us, we liked him, so we thought ‘why not?’.

“Ten years on we’re going strong and The ‘Naki has been good to us. We want to say ‘Thanks. We like being here, too’”.

ends

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