If you build it, they will click, tradies say
Tradespeople are adding social media to their tool kits, building up thousands of followers seeking to improve their home DIY skills.
Since Covid-19 hit, more people have been spending their money on home renovations instead of holidays – and many of them are taking to social media for tips and tricks.
On the other side of the coin, more tradies have discovered the benefits of putting themselves online.
Nelson builder Chris Donnelly has been in the industry for 20 years, and his popularity has been rising since he started posting his skills on Instagram in 2017.
He has garnered more than 10,000 Instagram followers, and more than 32,000 on Tik Tok, with his DIY advice, including door installations, table saw pointers, and tool reviews.
Donnelly said his followers were made up of DIYers and tradespeople from around the country and internationally.
‘‘There’s a worldwide group of people sharing their knowledge and helping each other out.’’
He said his videos on building and techniques were kept simple for first-time renovators, and were also a platform to ‘‘empower’’ tradies.
Kiwi ingenuity was alive and well, he said, but many thought DIY was easy.
‘‘There’s a lot of technical knowledge we’ve had to learn. I’m trying to reveal what it is like to be a builder, show people how far they can go with DIY, and when they should get a professional.’’
Donnelly has inspired others to show off their skills, including Nelson tiler Hayden Wright.
Wright has a playful approach to sharing insights into tiling. He said it was ‘‘a bit of light entertainment while watching someone do a trade’’.
Clever editing shows his tiling transformations, set to popular music and with special effects that have him apparently jumping through walls and disappearing down drains.
Wright said playing with a video app while doing his work was a great way to combine two of his interests. ‘‘Obviously, I take tiling seriously, but it’s a little bit of fun in showing the process.’’
While Wright is still growing his followers, others around the world are reaching large audiences, including a Californian tiler, @_tilebro,who has more than 100,000 Instagram followers.
Nelson building apprentice Neave Osborne has made huge gains as an industry influencer with her Mrs Builder account.
Her 13,000 followers have earned her a contract with Steel Blue Work Boots, support from Mitre 10 Mega, freebies from Bison Workwear, and a Stabila True Pro Ladies 2022 title, which has seen her become the New Zealand ambassador for the German level manufacturer this year.
Osborne said it was ‘‘awesome’’ being able to sample new products, especially as Nelson didn’t always have access to them.
Her followers were split down the middle, half from New Zealand and half from around the globe, she said, which was great for building on her knowledge.
‘‘It’s really cool, engaging with what people are doing overseas, the type of building they’re doing, what they face on a daily basis, their rules, their health and safety, and what women face or don’t face.
‘‘That’s probably one of the big drivers for me – I love being in a wider community.’’