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Tradies have their own language, when it comes to their profession, and they like to deal with others who speak that same lingo.
It is therefore a huge advantage for Trowel Trades, which opened in Silverdale industrial park last month, that co-owner Donn Attwood spent nearly 30 years as a plasterer and gib stopper.
His fiancée, Sandi Renall, is also his partner in the business and she has quickly become familiar with everything to do with businesses that use trowels – principally gib stoppers, plasterers (interior and exterior), brick and block layers and tilers.
Sandi’s job has been made easier as she has been working alongside Donn in the plastering business for some time.
More surprisingly, there’s also a connection between her former occupation as the owner of a dental clinic and the trowel trades.
“Dentistry also requires tools that cut, grind, fill and bond with adhesive products,” she says. “It’s more similar than you’d think.”
Trowel Trades stock tools for gib stoppers, plasterers, concreters, tilers and brick and block layers as well as specialised materials. They can also offer trade prices for anyone who is doing a bit of DIY at home.
Donn says that Trowel Trades is well respected in the industry. There are four in Auckland and several more throughout NZ. It is best known for good quality tools and products, which are NZ-made or imported from America including brands such as Marshall Town, Kraft and Holer diamond tools. There is also a smaller range of cheaper tools for DIY enthusiasts.
Sandi and Donn say they are ensuring they meet the needs of customers by listening and getting in whatever is needed. They will be increasing their stock of tiling products and tools, in response to demand and also plan to add more for painters.
As well as supplying the local trades, Sandi says they are getting work from further afield. “Tradies working in Millwater and other big developments come from all over Auckland and internationally and we can cater for the things they run out of while they’re on the job,” she says.
The couple say that word is getting around that the bright red Trowel Trades building in Titan Place, which covers the area from Silverdale to Whangarei, is open for business.
“We’re getting a lot of people coming in saying how pleased they are that Trowel Trades has opened in Silverdale.”
