A sign of confidence
AWimmera development leader believes the opening of a major new trade-based franchise in Horsham reflects a high level of business confidence the region.
Wimmera Development Association executive director Chris Sounness said the changeover of Wilson Street business Breuers United Tools to a Total Tools store was a massive market tick of approval.
He said the development was even more significant considering it had occurred amid uncertainties surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It shows that a major business franchisor has confidence in the Wimmera, southern Mallee and Horsham and also its partner franchisee – in this case Stuart and Tracey Hobbs,” he said.
“This doesn’t happen unless there is a high degree of confidence all round. It is a very good sign from a business development perspective.”
Total Tools, with a motto ‘Every tool, every trade’, has stores Australia wide and a claim as being Australia’s largest independent professional tools retailer.
Mr Hobbs said the decision to become a franchisee was also about having confidence in Horsham and the broader Wimmera.
He said the change has led to the Horsham store doubling in most areas of business.
“We got to a point where we felt the region was strong enough for us to go up another level,” he said.
“We had a staff of five, which has now grown to 10, we’ve doubled our showrooms, doubled our stock holdings and our range and service for
our community is a whole lot better. We’re also now open seven days a week so trades people can get their tools on a weekend. They couldn’t get that type of specialised product and service in the past.
“We felt doing this was a way to bring something bigger and better to the area. Considering some of the projects coming into this community or that are already here such mining, wind farms and other large-scale projects, we have 100 percent confidence in what we’ve done.
“We’ve already had people embrace
it. They’ve come in from deep in the Mallee, from South Australia and right across the region. It has created a big buzz in the industry.
“It’s important to us that the other thing it does is stop people shopping out of town in Ballarat or Melbourne for quality tools – and at the same time other products they could get in Horsham.”
The Hobbs family has been busy since an informal Total Tools switchover and will have an official opening ceremony on Wednesday next week.