Third generation is another layer to paint story
There can’t be many businesses that have lasted for 61 years and three generations of family ownership. Yet Hawera-based painting firm D.R. (Jack) Gray Limited has done just that.
The business was founded in 1956 by Jack Gray . The North Taranaki branch is now headed by Jack’s son Tony, and the South Taranaki branch by Jack’s grandson Nathan.
What started off as a local business with a staff of one now has
45, and undertakes domestic, commercial and industrial work from Urenui to Waitotara.
The team handles a host of responsibilities. It numbers two managing directors, two project managers, one accounts/ administration manager, two administration assistants, a health and safety advisor and 36 painters. The company has qualified spray painters, qualified wallpaperers, flooring applicators, certified waterproofing applicators and a dedicated industrial division which specialises in sandblasting and industrial coatings.
The company has recently relocated their new Plymouth office to a new location at 137 Molesworth St. This change also coincides with the 10-year anniversary of Nathan taking charge of the Hawera branch of the business. ‘‘I’m proud of the fact we’ve been here for such a long period of time, and we aim to be here for at least that length of time in the future,’’ Nathan says. ‘‘We’ve always prided ourselves in having a straightforward, honest approach to doing business.
D.R. (Jack) Gray Limited has long been recognised for the quality of its workmanship, reliability and accountability, Nathan says, emphasising they have always aimed to provide a top-quality service using top quality products.
They were the first Taranaki painting company to guarantee their work. Clients recognise that service with their support. ‘‘We’re fortunate to have such loyal clientele. I’m very proud to be still servicing some of Jack’s original building contractors and knowing that they still have faith in us.
‘‘We’ve serviced many of Taranaki’s main building contractors for many years. Sixty years ago, Jack serviced Arthur Brown Construction, and we’re still servicing them. About a dozen local builders have solely used us for over
20 years.
‘‘We work on the ‘no job is too big, no job is too small’ policy; because those small jobs often lead to big jobs further down the track. My father always drilled into me ‘Repeat business is your best business’.’’
Nathan aimed to give himself six years to ‘‘find his feet’’ within the company before looking at new business avenues. His aim was to diversify the business and begin undertaking new applications. But to protect its hard-earned reputation, he aims to grow the company slowly and steadily.
Nathan is actively seeking industrial-scale work and has become an applicator for Flowcrete; (market-leading epoxy, polyurethane and MMA resin floor and wall coating solutions). He’s also intending the business to undertake larger industrial sandblasting and industrial painting contracts .
Staff are key to past success and future development. ‘‘At the end of the day we owe a lot of the thanks to our long-serving and loyal staff; we wouldn’t be where we are today without them.’’
Many of the firm’s staff have been with the company for more than 10 years. One recently retired after spending 40 years with the company. There is a standing joke among the staff that ‘Everyone who leaves always comes back’.
Nathan says one of his proudest moments has been cementing the company’s relationship with Fonterra. He has worked hard over the past five years for D.R. (Jack) Gray to become the preferred contractor on Fonterra sites and have recently carried out two of their large refurbishment contracts.
‘‘Business is now evenly split between the industrial and domestic sectors,’’ he says. ‘‘The industrial work is growing steadily. I’m very patient and will only bring in more staff as and when I feel they’re ready to satisfy our clients.’’
Health and safety compliance is an important issue, and he has invested a great deal of money on that aspect of the business. A fulltime health and safety advisor has enabled it to comply with industrial clients’ needs.
‘‘We’ve invested hugely into health and safety, and probably lead the way within our industry. This has been acknowledged in numerous customer comments and references.’’
Paint technology changes on a
daily basis – products last longer and drying times continually improve. For example, one seamless floor-coat system was once a fourday application; whereas now, new technology allows it to be completed in two-and-a-half hours. Jack may not be here anymore, but he still provides quality control and a guiding hand behind the scene. One of his mottos is still being said by the staff: ‘‘Put plenty of paint on; you’re not paying for it.’’
Jack never wanted to skimp on paint; he knew that a quality finish would always bring repeat business.
‘‘I think that, apart from my own passion for the trade, what keeps me going every day is the thought that we’re honouring our legacy,’’ Nathan says.
‘‘We want to honour that legacy and continue to build on it. We’re very proud of the reputation we’ve gained over three generations. We’ve gone from strength to strength and the future looks bright. The hard work has been done; we just have to carry it on and keep the standards as high as possible.
‘‘I’m sure Jack would be proud of the company,’’ he adds. ‘‘When I sit down and contemplate an idea, I always think ‘Would Dad do that?’ and I’m sure Dad thinks ‘Would Dad (Jack) do that?’, too.
‘‘We’re continuing our core work with the same strong ethical values that’ve held us in such good stead over the years; while continuing to build our presence on the industrial sites. You could say it’s ‘New location, new look, same values’.’’