Panelbeater calls it a day after 43 years
When Max Sayer first began life as a panel beater it was all about belting the hell out of things to get them back into shape.
‘‘Whereas today it’s a case of ‘we’ll unbolt that panel and put a new one on’,’’ he said. ’’It wasn’t a throw away world.’’
After 43 years in the game Max and his wife Alison, who bought Hawera Panelbeaters Ltd in partnership with David and Yonnie Goodhue, have sold up and are retiring.
Their exit doesn’t mean an end to the business, which has been sold to South Taranaki couple Matt and Sharon Meads.
‘‘They’ll work it, they really will,’’ Max Sayer said.
To date, Hawera Panelbeaters Ltd has been around for more than 50 years, with the Sayers on board for most of those.
Max and Alison put the longevity of their business down to their constant drive to diversify.
‘‘We had to follow the modern motor car.’’
‘‘There used to be about 13 panel shops in Hawera all those years ago. Now there’s only four,’’ Max said.
The Sayers picked up skills over the years. Alongside the business of panelbeating they worked on other parts of vehicles and also offer glass repairs.
They have been involved with Smith and Smith glass repairs since 1991 and Alison thought this was one of their many wise decisions.
In 2003, when the Sayers bought the remainder of the business, Smith and Smith asked if they’d like to get into household glass.
Alison said this involved table tops, splashbacks, cat and dog doors, ‘‘all of that type of thing comes underneath it’’.
‘‘You just keep up with everything that’s going around you,’’ she said.
They started to do mobile glass repairs in the past few years too; travelling everywhere from Waverley to Opunake, and occasionally to the likes of Rahotu and Whangamomona.
The Sayers have seen their ’’supportive clients and loyal customers’’ grow over the years, generation after generation.
Max said a highlight for him was seeing the families coming back.
The Sayers said the past 43 years had been fantastic but they were looking forward to retiring.
‘‘We haven’t given up because it wasn’t a good thing to be doing,’’ Alison said.
‘‘It was just a time of life.’’