Top 100 CEO Interviews
Issue No. 35 - June/July 2007
Networking a plumb job
Northern's Plumbtec is an example of tradie made good, where good anticipation and networking has made an independent merchant not only competitive with large chains, but a Top 100 company in its own right.
“I was running a plumbing business with my father called Shaw Plumbing, concentrating on new homes, transportables, small commercial and maintenance plumbing - at one stage employing seven tradesmen,” says Northern's Plumbtec MD, John Shaw.
“Seeing an opportunity to stay in the industry but in a different position I purchased the already established business in 1979 and began trading in 1980.
Trading as Northern Plumbing Supplies in 1980, the business had a staff of three and a turnover of more than $300,000. Over the years it has evolved to NPS, Northern Plumbing and most recently to Northerns - Plumbtec in the late 1990s.
Plumbtec is a national plumbers buying group that amalgamated with independent plumbing suppliers buying group orchestrated and chaired by John Shaw in 1999. This group has now grown to 84 members operating 215 stores nationwide.
“The buying power created by this joining of forces became a major factor in the ability of independents to complete in the same market place as their larger national competitors,” John says.
“This enabled NPS to be more aggressive in its approach to new business. We began to open new stores in strategic areas, accordingly increasing turnover and market presence.
