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The Fassifern Guardian. Wednesday, April 15, 2015 - Page 7
Purdon Street Kalbar Ph 5463 7333 & 33 Walter Street Boonah Ph 5463 1905
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by DREW CREIGHTON
TEN years ago, the traffic in Sydneycaused James Stroud to make a changethat brought him to Boonah.
Now he has a successful constructionand design business with soon-to-beeight franchisees and more to come inthe future.
James is the owner and operator ofStroud Homes, started his own businessin 2011 and has expanded his operationsacross State borders.
“I was a builder in Sydney, doing workfor a company that was based in Bris-bane, and I made a complaint to them oneday about the traffic in Sydney.
“They said if you don’t like it in Sydney,why don’t you come to Queensland, we’vegot a job that needs to be built.
“That job was the clinic in Kalbar thatDoctor Eviston built, so I came up here todo that job.
“I didn’t know where it was. I looked itup on a Google map and I found out it hada couple of dams near it, a couple ofmountains and I thought that it could beall right.”
James was apprehensive at first, mov-ing into what seemed like a close-knittown.
“I made an agreement with the com-pany: I said I’m a Canadian guy, I’ve gotan accent, sometimes it’s hard to fit intosmall towns, because everyone wants tocopy my accent every time I say some-thing.
“It can be a little hard to fit in. Every-one’s already got friends and their family,so I said I don’t think we’ll settle there,we’ll just do the job and move to Bris-bane.
“To our surprise, we enjoyed livinghere almost immediately. It was quite un-expected, so we changed our mind aboutthe place and here we are 10 years later.”
While working in Kalbar, James noticedthere was an opportunity in the area and amarket gap that he would soon fill.
“As I was building the clinic, we hadseveral requests to quote people’s newhomes, so I did some quoting in a manualsort of fashion. It was quite difficult and Ididn’t win any work.
“I began to suspect that there was amore streamlined way that I could dothat type of thing and I thought the bigcompanies would have some secrets.
“So I bought a franchise with GJ Gar-dener Homes and I started that in 2006and I ran it until 2011.
“When I started the GJ Gardenergroup was a well known company. I wasthe youngest owner of one of their fran-chises and in the last year of my five-yearterm, I won Franchisee of the Year.
“I had the largest market share of anyof the GJ Gardener Homes franchiseesand I had the largest market share of anylocal builder.”
There are a few things that Jamesthinks he can pin his success on, but onethat makes him stand out is how he treatshis clients.
“I really think it’s North American cus-tomer service concepts.
“I love how relaxed Australians are,but sometimes in business you have to bereally attentive to your customer and Ithink that there might be a slightly differ-ent perception of how it works in NorthAmerica.
“After I won the award with Garden-ers, I had to negotiate a new contractwith them, which I never successfullyrenegotiated.
“But because I had been successful, I
was looking for further opportunity andthere just wasn’t any opportunity avail-able with them, so I started StroudHomes.”
It was not the best time to be startinga business that relied solely on the hous-ing market, but James and his familybucked the trend and created a success-ful start-up.
“It wasn’t a great time for selling andbuilding new homes for people - propertyvalues around 2011, 2012 actually droppeda little bit. People are not extremely keento build new homes in a time when thevalue of homes are dropping.
“We thought that we knew what peoplewanted, what sort of house plans andwhat sort of look they wanted. So westarted working very hard on a range ofdesigns.
“To our surprise, our website startedattracting enquiries from areas well out-side of where we could build.”
The next step for the business was alogical move for James, as he already hada wealth of experience in the area.
“Because we had that background infranchising, it was quite a natural thing tothink, ‘If customers want to build ourhomes on the Gold Coast, in Toowoombaor Tweed Heads, perhaps we should finda builder there to build them for us’ - sothat’s what we did.
“Our first franchisee on the Gold Coasthas now been in business for just over ayear. In that year he has managed to usethe Stroud Homes’ system to sell 21 newhomes and put the slab down for 10 of
those homes - which is quite a steep andsuccessful startup curve for a new builder.
“And as such we’re quite pleased withhis success.”
Stroud Homes have used their firstfranchisee as a foundation and examplefor further expansion across the country.
“We believe his success proves the via-bility of our model.
“We’re now in the process of signing upthe eighth franchisee and I’m starting totravel down into New South Wales to New-castle, Wagga, Liverpool - and we’ve got afellow in Epping who’s coming to meetour franchise team up there.
“So we think we’ll soon be in the doubledigits and continue to grow from there.”
James’ business offers the town morethan new homes, he says it helps stimu-late the local economy.
“Stroud Homes is different from mostof the other businesses along the street.For this business the money to pay Samand Amanda in the office, myself and mywife, comes almost entirely from out ofBoonah.
“Sam and Amanda are local. My wifehas a particular shopping routine: Shestops at the fruit and vegetable shop first,then to the butchers, then the health foodshop and, if there’s anything else left afterthat, she goes to IGA.
“We believe that’s the way it should bedone. We’re very grateful that Boonah letus come and be part of the community.”
Other than his North American cus-tomer service, James thinks it’s Boonahhospitality that helps make his businessstand out.
“I love the people in Boonah and theyknow they’re not finished work until thework is finished.
“Sam and Amanda won’t leave here,even if we’re dealing with a New SouthWales franchisee, until the work’s done.
“They give that country style service.They understand that there’s no excuseto not be friendly and pleasant on thephone.
“I believe that’s Boonah culture and Ithink for a company like Stroud Homes tobenefit from the friendly Boonah cultureis a breath of fresh air – especially whenyou get a guy joining our group from Ep-ping in Melbourne, and we get commentsthat Amanda and Sam are so friendly, ac-cessible and always willing to help out.”
“We get comments that Amanda andSam are so friendly, accessible and alwayswilling to help out.”
� Continues Page 8
SKYPE BEATS
SYDNEY TRAFFIC
Spinning a country style business web in Boonah“What I love aboutBoonah is I can be sit-ting in here using thelatest video technologyto have a conferencewith people across thenation and then I canstep outside and talk tosomeone that’s beenbranding cattle.”
The Fassifern Guardian. Wednesday, April 15, 2015 - Page 8
Boonah Cultural Centre, Friday 19th June 8pmBOOKINGS: www.liveatthecentre.com.au
PHONE: 5463 3068 or 5540 5050
Direct from a sellout Twin Towns show!Direct from a sellout Twin Towns show!
Featuring Greg, Tony and RobbieFeaturing Greg, Tony and RobbieWAK PRODUCTIONS P/L PRESENTS AUSTRALIA’S ZANIEST ENTERTAINERS
SALES
AUCTIONEERS and REALTY
Neil and Rachel GoetschLicensed Auctioneer and Real Estate Agent
Phone 5463 9040 Fax 5463 9082Mobile 0417 719 671 (Neil)
0427 171 522 (Brenton)www.goetschandsons.com.au Email: [email protected]
SALESLaidley Multi
Vendor AuctionThis Saturday 18th April
at 10am190 Drayton Street, LaidleyMachinery: Case 110hp tractor, Ursis 4514tractor, Claas 350 rotary rake, 2 hay trailers,Kubota GT850 mower with 48in deck, singlechaff cutter pto, Misc: pipe fittings, elect bandsaw, trailer mudguards, assort hand &power tools, 4x4 trailer, mechanic tray, cranefor ute 12v hyd system, Honda 350 generator,repco pressure cleaner, push mowers, HGPalmer elect sewing machine, 16ft x 6ftRoswell box trailer (reg), 15ft x 6ft tandemtrailer, 6 x 4m shed trusses, ironbark split &round posts, portable yard panels & gates,border stones, hardwood fence posts, hardwood sleepers, pine palings, assort hardwood, elect water pump, axes, nuts boltsetc, sledge hammers, sausage maker, miniature chaff cutter, lifting slings, fire extinguishers, sub pump, household itemsand much more. Collectables etc:collectable dolls, Ultimate Car Collection byDel Prado, cream cans, old Bakelite radio,old, Bakelite clocks, old tin signs, blacksmithtools & bellows, adz, dog traps, cross cutsaws, old plough seat, copper boiler, campovens, cow bells, cherry butter churn, blowbutter churn, oil bottles, Metho stove, AussieVietnam helmets, Bakelite phone, Mack trucksign, WW2 water bottles, hat blocks, clogs,balance scales, Demijohn, fire brigade
helmet, hat box, 2 x old hanging meat safes,valor heater, old table lamps, Victorian bookpress, railway made leg vice, John Deerepedal tractor, old irons, scythe, enamel boiler,picks, cob fork, old tea tins. BID CARD SYSTEM, PHOTO ID REQUIRED.PAYMENT IN CASH, CHEQUE OR EFTPOSON DAY OF SALE UNLESS PRIOR ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE WITHAUCTIONEER.
Full list & photo’s on website
Clearing SaleA/C K & K Hearn
Sunday 26th April at 10amLot 3 Court Ave North, Brightview
Forklift, workshop equipment,Household & much more
OPEN TO OUTSIDE VENDORSFull list & photo’s on website
Clearing SaleA/C Southern Sun
ExcavationSaturday 2nd May at 10am
385 Fords Rd, RingwoodVia Gatton
Earthmoving equip, workshop equip, utes,caravans, fuel pods, generators,
compressors, pumps & much much more
• Great range of poultry and supplies• Poultry, horse, pet and all livestock feeds
• Delivery service available• Competitive prices
Ph 0412 507 748
� Continues from Page 7
Business is done differently inBoonah; James found this out whileat lunch with his designers.
“We just had an experience,where we went to the Wild Grainrestaurant for lunch with ourgraphic artists.
“While we were there we spoketo the guy that owns the place - wesponsor his racing motorcycle - sothe graphic artist was able to meethim and arrange to have some pho-tos of the racing motorcycle sentover.
“Then the photographer whotook the photos of the motorcyclewas having lunch there as well.
“Business is so often like that inBoonah.
“It’s so easy to get things done,you don’t often realise unless you’vecome from Sydney and you have to
drive somewhere to do everything.“It’s just the beauty of living in a
town like Boonah, it’s so easy.”James said his business suffers
little from being located away fromthe city.
“We do a lot of online confer-ences with our franchisees, we havetwo weekly meetings here onSkype.
“Soon we’re going to have fivedisplay homes and eight offices.
“The rent on the offices is great.If we were in Brisbane it’s quitepossible we could be spending fivetimes the amount compared tohere.
“What I love about Boonah is Ican be sitting in here using the lat-est video technology to have a con-ference with people across thenation and then I can step outsideand talk to someone that’s beenbranding cattle.”
Spinning a country stylebusiness web in Boonah
Field Nats and fossilsTHE guestspeaker at the AGM of the FassifernField Naturalist group this year was Dr AndrewRozefelds from the Queensland Museum.
Andrew talked about Tertiary plant fossilfinds in Queensland and how they help scien-tists understand the taxonomy of currentspecies.
Some fossil seeds were found in centralQueensland which were up to 30 million yearsold.
They were large seeds and preserved whole(in three dimensions) which enabled scanningby modern medical scanners. They were thesame structure as the current Burdekin Plum,which sheds a whole new light on the taxonomyof that species.
“To think that the same structure has provedto be successful for such a long time and oversuch wide changes of climate is quite amaz-ing,”commented Keith McCosh.
After the talk there was time to socialise havea delicious supper and look at the fossil displaysthat people had brought in.
Our next outing is a camp on private propertyat Koreelah just over the border into NSW.
For information contact Wendy Dunn.
Steve Sparrow to star atCountry Music SocialTHE guest artist at the Boonah Country MusicClub April social is Steve Sparrow
Steve is a recording artist who has workedaround South East Queensland for the lasttwenty years. He is well known for his easy lis-tening style and sings ballads, blues, country,folk and throws in a bit of comedy.
A singer, songwriter and guitarist who is theowner of a sound studio, he has recorded CD’sfor many artists including some of the localsfrom this area.
“The Social Network Freak” is a fun single hereleased at an earlier date and he has almostcompleted his album “Cactus Green” which isdue to be released in the near future.
Everyone is invited to join Club members atthe social this Saturday night.
GARDEN club member Bev Stub-bin and husband Rob were thrilledto meet Costa Georgeiadis, the fa-mous TV plant guru at the IpswichPlant Expo, recently. After theirconversation they had their phototaken with him by none other thanIpswich Mayor Paul Pisasale. ToBev’s delight, Paul took the troubleto send them the photo which sheproudly displayed at the GardenClub’s March meeting, which washeld in Lynne’s garden at Aratula.
Bev coyly admitted she WASkissed by the bearded one!
The meeting day was hot andsunny in the middle of several wetones and the show table reflectedthe better growing conditions withhealthy pawpaws, huge passionfruit, rosellas and beautiful flowersincluding a dinner plate sizedflower of Hibiscus Southern Bellewhich was grown in Lynne’s gar-den. Show table winners wereRose-’Tiffany’ Lynne Faux; Potplant-Maureen Itzstein; Fruit orvegetable Pawpaws won byMichelle Coulston. The luckynewsletter was claimed by newmember Noeleen Fritz one of ninenew members welcomed thismonth.
Member Robyn Freiberg gave atalk on entering the horticulturesection of this year’s Boonah Show.She answered lots of questions andencouraged all members to put anentry or two in. Rikki Fulton fromBiosecurity Queensland gavemembers an update on theprogress of Fire Ant infestations inthe district and how to spot theirpresence. This is very importantinformation as they are already inthe Scenic Rim and if not eradi-
cated will cause untold damage tocrops, livestock and people as theyhave in the United States.
The bus trip to Min Taylor’sOpen Garden ‘Bominda’, CoolanaOlives at Minden, the Lowood RailTrail and Pete’s Hobby Garden wasa great success on a beautiful au-tumn day. Passengers weretreated to an interesting commen-tary by convener Laurie as wetravelled through Tarome and Ro-sevale pointing out homesteadsand farms of local identities andprevious homes of members. Thetrip included olive, olive oil, cheeseand wine tasting and membersmarveled at the rare trees in Min’sgarden as well as Pete’s splendidefforts in propagating and plantingnative species along the LowoodEsk Rail Trail. His nursery waspacked with the same and he de-lighted in telling us how it wasachieved. Naturally the returningbus was packed with plants asmembers wanted to try growingsome of these wonderful plantstoo!
The next bus trip ‘A MagicalMystery Tour’ to the Stanthorperegion is nearly full already sohurry and contact Laurie if youwant to go. Please note this is nota winery tour, we are a gardeninggroup.
The next meeting is at SachaSteven’s garden, 841 LakeMoogerah Road on April 22. Pleasedo not arrive before 9.30am as thisis a working farm. Guests wel-come, please bring a chair and cup.Guest speakers will be the Larsensfrom the ‘Warm Bulb Nursery’ whowill be bringing plants for sale also.
Photographs published in the FassifernGuardian can be purchased by Ph 5463 1888
Boonah District Garden Club
Kissed by Costa
Office Hours
Monday: 8.00am - 5.00pmTuesday: 8.00am - 5.00pm
Wednesday: 8.30am - 1.00pmThursday: 8.30am - 1.00pm
Friday: 8.30am - 1.00pm
