Building with confidence
THERE comes a time when you have to take a chance and start a business.
For Townsville builder James Monaghan, that time is now as he launches a franchise of The Shed Company in North Queensland.
He has taken advantage of Townsville’s oversupplied leasing market and chosen a high- profile location in Aitkenvale near Stockland shopping centre rather than an industrial setting.
So far the decision has paid off with several deals in the first few weeks of operations. The company has leased premises in Ross River Rd formerly used for a pool shop.
Mr Monaghan said it represented a big investment for him at a time when some of his colleagues and friends in the building industry had left the city to find work elsewhere.
He wanted to operate his own business after working in the building industry as a carpenter and builder for 12 years, most recently undertaking renovations on Queenslander homes.
“A big part of the reason for taking on the franchise was The Shed Company’s very y p positive tive a attitude and the fact they do not compromise on quality,” Mr Monaghan said. “They have a very engineered product. They build a solid building.”
The franchise also provided a diverse business including sheds, garages, patios, carports and steel kit homes.
Mr Monaghan said he would market into the grazing and sugar industries as well as the Townsville area.
“We will cover from Townsville all the way out to Mount Isa. We will try and cater for as many people as we can,” Mr Monaghan said.
Knight Frank leasing agent Dan Place said the property’s location in Aitkenvale would provide good exposure for the fledgling business.
“For a new business, you can’t go past good exposure and parking and this property ticks all those boxes,” Mr Place said.
“Ross River Rd is one of Townsville’s busiest arterial roads with about 26,000 cars passing the site every day.”
The opening represents the further expansion of The Shed Company, having started in Mudgee, NSW in 2005 and expanded into Queensland with the franchise business acquired by Steelx Pty Ltd in 2014. A franchise also operates in Cairns.