Welcome back to the Carpentry Australia podcast
I’m here today with the fantastic Alex from Sutton Tools
and your your title at Sutton is national sales manager
ah no
national key account manager
there you go yep
so no not a little bit more special
well maybe maybe not
it’s maybe the national sales one day that’s a goal to have
but for now looking after a number of our care accounts
so new to the role which is exciting
that’s that’s great and how long have you been with us
four years now okay
four years so it’s been a bit of a whirlwind in the last four years
it’s a coming into the business in a in a territory management role
servicing customers as I have done for many years
and to where I am now it’s been quite exciting
yeah and what so talk talk a little bit more
I’d love to hear about sort of Sutton’s history
and like I think
the one thing that really pulled Carpentry Australia towards Sutton
in the first place was the Australian made
and that we have we’re doing things on on soil here
and it just had that kind of alignment where we
we love what our carpenters are doing
and we wanna equip them with the best business tools
the best actual tools
and that’s sort of where you guys fell into place
yeah absolutely
it’s quite important for us to actually you know
let people know
that we do still manufacture product here in Australia
obviously not everything we do is manufactured here and
and it’s probably quite difficult to do so these days anyway
but for the I suppose our our roots
our threading tools and our our drilling and cutting tools
we certainly do manufacture locally
across two sites here in Australia
with Thomas Town and and Maryborough up there in
regional Victoria and then we’ve got New Zealand
so Rangiora is is our site down there in in New Zealand over up there
over there in New Zealand Yep
which is recently opened so
March this year we opened the the new Rangiora site following our
unfortunate incident back in 2002
so experienced the fire which was a pretty big impact for us
that’s right I remember that yeah
so it did hurt at the time yeah
obviously as an event like that would but
under no circumstances
we’re gonna take a backward step in our rebuild and
you know
fast forward now March 25 reopen New Zealand and Onward and upward
so any plan to open any other ones or what’s the look
I’m not too sure about that wouldn’t be a question for me and and yeah
II sort of stay out of those bits and pieces yeah
look we’ve recently acquired midatoia
which is a metallurgy business out of
a high quality metallurgy product out of Japan
which is very very new to myself
but new to the business as well and does fit what we do
we’ve already had a number of distributors reach out to us and
and ask for some trading agreements and product ranging and
and pricing which is exciting
so okay
exciting for us exciting for the market
but you know we’re
we’re always looking at evolving
looking at what we could do as a business to strengthen
you know where we sit in the market already
and where we can add to our categories and add to our branding
Carby Tools
one of those we were speaking about just a little bit before
so I do love Carby Tool
and when people find out that Carby Tool are part of Sutton Tools
it’s it comes to some as a shock and surprise in a good way
yeah and so we’re building on that brand as we speak with the
with some new products that are coming to market
some release some on their way yeah
exciting so absolutely perfect perfect
what about so
one thing we’d like to ask everyone that comes on the show
is sort of what the what their relationship is like with
with Carpentry Australia and sort of what the partnership
I guess means for you know
your business and obviously for for Sutton as a whole
so can you tell us a little bit about
why it’s important that Sutton is involved with Carpentry Australia
and you know what do you guys
what do you guys get from it
absolutely something
been involved now for a couple of years with Carpenter Australia
and Suki our
our director of marketing
actually reached out about sponsorship packages
and how we can get involved there
and since that point
it’s actually been really good exposure for us as a business
within the next generation of trades
particularly with you know tape exposure and and you know
a couple of events that I’ve attended with you
out of the polytechnic as well
there in Hobart that’s been quite exciting yeah
and for us to be able to roll out you know our product
be it what we’re known for
but what’s now new to the market under our under our banner
that’s been quite exciting for us
and yeah we’re you know 190 in hours of business right
so for us
it’s we’ve been around quite a long time and with that some habits
you know creep in
and sometimes it takes a little while for us to learn
the new tricks of the trade
with how to get access to the next generation
you’ve helped us do that absolutely well
one thing I want to commend something on
and this is something I saw from the start
was that the branding side of it
and sort of the way that you have done the whole Viper range
and I’ve just I’ve always been very impressed with sort of
how you’ve been able to sort of stay in that new modern
you know like obviously you’re right
when businesses are around for a long time
they tend to stay a little bit old school
they don’t necessarily stay with the times
but I think that you’ve been very on trend
and you’ve
been excited to see some of the new stuff that you’ve got coming out
and I think it’s clever for the apprentices as well
yep the new guys that are coming through
to sort of see stuff that doesn’t look stock standard
actually looks you know
pretty sharp and pretty cool
and you know
I think that’s a big thing that you’re probably doing quite well
it’s a testament to our product team and our marketing team
they they’re able to take
you know an idea and a concept
and put it into development stage and bring it to life
which is great you know
right down from redesigning branding and packaging
you know recently we’ve had a redesign of our brand
we’ve introduced the shield
yep and which we we haven’t haven’t had before
which is really exciting so and then with that
we’ve gone and redesigned packaging
and still maintain the colour coding
so if people notice and maybe
maybe they haven’t really picked it up before
but hopefully now they will go and keep an eye out for it
but we colour code yeah
with our with our products and our packaging and yeah
the kind of detail that we actually put on there
it allows you to shop for yourself
yeah and so
it’s a fast paced environment
a lot of our distributors and retailers out there
you know they’re limited as well in terms of dealing with customers
and you know
you can’t grab every customer that walks through the door
so we need to be able to provide a product that you can
you can shop yourself and yeah
provide you the detail you need
and I think our team do a great job of bringing that to life
hmm
you can see it straight away as well
hundred percent stands out
yeah it does
absolutely it does
what about some highlights
and things that we’ve sort of achieved over the past couple of years
what’s things that Sutton’s really proud of
that we’ve been able to do together
to me it’s a
it is the first and foremost
it’s the exposure right
so at the moment
suddenly going through a little bit of a
a learning experience with delving deeper into social media
and James has been instrumental within our business of doing that
and yeah he’s got the support of the team there
and Sue’s right behind him as well
which is really exciting you know
really trying to drive that
working with Calista as well
there’s a little video shot last week
of a new product that will be hitting the market okay shortly
that’s exciting not gonna give too much away
but I’m sure it’ll stick when it lands
there’s a little clue for you ha ha ha and it’s my attempt at comedy
which was terrible it’s uh yeah
for for us to be able to learn from yourselves
who do that social aspect of it really well
and you actually engage with your
your members and supporters and
and the trades out there through a number of different causes
and one that I think is actually really important that
you know mental health
you know especially with amongst trades that yeah
you know nobody really has a chat you know
that’s sort of
it’s opened our eyes to how we can approach that social media
aspect yeah
and then getting exposure
actually hands on in front of the up and coming trades
and teaching them a little bit about what we do
you know we’re not just a drill
we’re not just the wholesaler there’s a little bit more to what we do
which is yeah you’ve given us that
and that’s exposure that we didn’t have in that area before
which I think is really exciting
I think the other surprising thing is
cause I’m the the member manager
I try and handle a lot of the engagement that we’ve got
with our chippies
and one thing that was definitely surprising for me was
how many blokes were
anytime I’d come out and I’d show them some new stuff and stuff
we’d have some stuff to give away whatever it might be
they knew that they were already using it
they’re like oh yeah I’ve already got
I bought the new Viper Pack last week and I need that new
like the new Spade bit set
my mind were bugged from you know
a couple years ago whatever it might have been
but the amount of people that I’ve gone out and seen
and they’re already either using it or have used it in the past
it was refreshing knowing that we were sort of in the right direction
we’re supporting the right sort of company absolutely
it’s nice to hear isn’t it
I mean it’s you don’t always need a pat on the back yeah
but when they come it’s a good thing
so to hear that feedback and to your to your point
the engagement with the right rob businesses that’s that’s a positive
I think one thing that we wanted to do in the future as well
was really because with all of our partners
and all the people that we sort of work closely with
we love to be able to provide our members with either a service
or be able to provide them with sort of better pricing
and I think at the moment
we’re sort of working on both of those angles with sudden
so hopefully maybe by the end of the year
we should be able to have maybe our own little portal
where some of our members can go and access
all of the sudden range
and I’d like to include Carby tool and stuff in there as well
and it just means that we’re really able to
to get them the right tools and get them the right stuff easier
yeah
absolutely instead of having to sort of jump through different hoops
I think really drilling down into that industry industry specific
you know we can drill down into that
and we do that a little bit with some of our product branding and
and packaging so we’ll you know
people will notice within our wholesales sets will have the plumber
electrician the carpenter
you know so if
if we can actually help segment that down
and provide the right advice for the segment
they’re in
happy yeah
ha ha love it alright so carpenters heavily rely on their tools
and what does Sutton
do to make sure that tradies are getting the best possible
in their hands yeah
it’s simply the quality assurance
yep so regardless of whether the product is imported
or whether it’s manufactured locally by us
the product is it’s quality controlled
I actually saw some quality control stuff up in Thomas Town
I think there was it was going through like
you know 100 tests or 50 test whatever it might have been
and they were yeah like
just to make sure that this new thing that they were releasing in the
the next two months was sort of across everything
there was all these metrics and it was computer screens
I’ve been done it’s quite insane
there’s some things that happen in there that
I’ve been there for years
and sometimes you know
you’ll ask a question
you’ll get an answer and you walk away and your head’s spinning
and that’s why we’ve got professional engineers and tool makers yeah
yeah our R&D department is is extensive and growing all the time
which is very important but yeah
look every product that comes off an assembly point there
or a manufacturer point there at Thomastown or Maryborough
anywhere really then in Rangiora anywhere we manufacture a product
it’s visually inspected before it even goes any further yeah
alright so it’s that detail
and then it goes into a climate controlled environment
where it goes through further inspections
and you know it’s insane and there’s a carrot every well yeah
it’s important for us to make sure
we’re providing the product to the market
that backs up our promise
you know I mean
we’re what is your promise
we’re world class since 1917 right
so to be world class
you gotta consider yourself amongst the best operators and
and suppliers of product and solutions in the market
so we can’t we can’t back that up unless we know we’ve
we’ve got the right product coming out of our
our manufacturing processes or product that we’re importing
it’s it’s actually got to take our seal of approval
yeah
and is there any through some of the trade school stuff
that we’ve done and you know
the stuff that we’ve been working with our members
and our apprentices
are there any sort of standout stories that you’ve
that Sutton remembers or is there any sorry
is there any standout stories from apprentices or carpenters
for people who are using Sutton tools and
and what you’ve what you’ve heard
so offsite on the Grapevine
there’s many crazy things I’ve heard and some of them
I’m sure I got a bit of mail on it
ha ha ha and but there’s no real one stand out
in terms of how a product of ours has been used extraordinarily
or something like that it’s
it’s more so the feedback you get when you’re out and about right
so striking up a conversation
you could be on a regional trip somewhere and you know
you go to the pub for dinner
yep because that’s travelling salesperson
that’s all we do
we go to the pub for dinner depending on how long your day’s been
whether you’re rushing to beat the kitchen closing or what you
you might turn up there and you’re in your southern Brandon shirt
right so you’re there at dinner and you’re ordering dinner
and there’s a tradie who’s going in for their afternoon beer
and strike up a conversation
and it’s all about something and what they know about something
so it’s our reach actually stretches far and wide
and that’s the most impressive thing
we’re starting to get that
same feedback from the younger generation of tradesperson
and so it’s not just the 45 year old tradie
who’s been using it for the last 20 odd years
it’s the 18 year old tradie
who’s just picked up their first Sutton hole saw set
or first Sutton drill set or spade bit set
or their first P&S step drill or
and now the new stacking product
you know that’s feedback that we’re receiving on that
which is exceptional
I did see I think we’ve done a couple of videos on the
on the stacking as well yes
a couple of cheeky ones been displaying it very fashionably
and yeah yeah
trying to dance a little bit
can Bruce has gone mad but you’re doing really well
it’s good I got no rhythm
that’s the problem that’s I don’t know what to do there
so no I love the stacking idea
I love sort of
that you’re trying to revamp that sort of modern take on
on what what these young tradies need as well
and being able to do it in a clever sort of cool looking way
as well as being practical and useful
and I guess easily obtainable as well
like that’s sort of what it’s all
that’s what it all plays into
everybody’s looking to be organized now
yeah you know
it’s all modular so I
I can’t remember the last time I drove past the Ute down the highway
and went Jesus
that thing’s untidy yep
everything’s got its place
absolutely it’s all marked
it’s yep all purpose
you know
purpose bought and purpose built and and we gotta fit that market
and we we have now which is really exciting
we’re continuing to evolve that as well
so you know more and more coming through will be adaptable
into our stacking range
and what what person doesn’t like playing with the you know
basically it’s a it’s a Lego set in a way
isn’t it yeah
you know we’re sitting together not not quite Lego
you know with with tools it is stack in
but it’s really cool it’s yeah
it works you know
it’s not it’s not a fad it’s not something that we’re trying to
get a gimmick across the market with
it actually works
you can stack the products in there and once they’re in
you can turn the thing upside down and yeah
they don’t fall out which is really good yeah
absolutely yeah
save you some tools out of the back of you as well
absolutely hundred percent talking about organization as well
like it’s funny you just reminded me
we actually have a member of ours from WA who started the brand
that’s it it’s it’s in Bunnings and stuff as well
but 48 tools
they’ve got all of these battery pack that were colour coded
so he was sort of the person who there’s probably
probably other ones that had come out with it
but you’re right in terms
in terms of the organisation of how tradies work nowadays they
they love being able to have
you know all of their batteries in the right place
and they like to have it all colour coded
and it’s just it’s different from how it was sort of 10
15 years ago time is money
yeah so
and whether that’s wasting time
going to replace something that you haven’t cared for properly
and it’s damaged or yeah
something you haven’t secured properly and you’ve lost it
or it’s been stolen
or you’re fumbling around trying to find that Philips bit
or that 5 mil drill you know
if it’s organised it saves your time
yeah definitely just makes it
if something tools was a tradie on site
yep what kind of tradie would they be
well you give me a little bit of a run sheet here
and I might be doubling you in
so but you give me a run through
give me some options here
so the options that come through
we got the perfectionist the Joker
the one who always brings snacks
well if it’s a Monday snacks
snacks snacks
absolutely if you’re in the office on Monday
and you go into the tearoom and there’s not snacks on the table
or somebody’s done some baking on Sunday
yeah you’d be very surprised
so I’d I’d like to say that we’d be always bringing the snacks failing that
I don’t know some
somewhere between I
think somewhere between the Joker and the perfectionist okay
cause you can’t take yourself too seriously no
you gotta have a little bit of fun with what you’re doing
you gotta enjoy what you do yeah
and you do have to try and get it right every time you possibly can
but gonna have fun with it yeah
I think that’s the other thing that I love is that sudden
you know I’m working with you guys for the past couple of years
it’s it you’ve always been sharp with sort of what we wanna do
you’re you’re always open to you know
helping with our helping Hand days
and all of our community events that we’re hosting
and then with the apprentices
but then at the same time
if I float throw an idea saying how I really like to do this
and I’ve got a
I’ve got a great idea for this new product that you’re bringing out
you you’ve you’ve never really said no
you say yeah yeah
but we’re in hundred percent
let us know what we need to do where do we need to be
what products do you need
and and we’ll get it through
because we wanna
tap into that audience in the best way that we possibly can
so by being the joker and by being a perfectionist
you sort of have all the the rounded and things that you need yeah
but being collaborative too
you know so I like the fact that you’ve pointed out there
that if you’ve got an idea
and you put it forward where we’re accommodating in that idea
it’s you’re nothing without people right
yeah one person can have a concept
but it doesn’t come to life without many hands
that’s right so it’s good
I like it yeah
one tool in the southern range
that chippy shouldn’t leave the house without now
now it’s it’s our new 37 piece stacking 37 piece 37 piece okay
a little bit of everything in it yeah
so here’s a little bit of ramen for you
ss 2 5 1 s thirty seven a is the product code
now to many people that’s not gonna mean much
I’m impressed you remember it
yeah well it’s it’s a problem
some people go to sleep counting sheep
I remember part numbers
it’s a my wife doesn’t enjoy that too much but it’s a it’s 37 pieces
it’s got our new super bit plus drills in there up to 5 mil
it’s a hex shank impact drill
yep with a titanium coating on it
so really really good drill as well
plays on the same parabolic flute design as our new XP Bullet
so it’s a really high performing drill again
I said new so everybody make sure you get out there and get stuck in
that’s it
it’s got driver bit sets in it a driver bits in it
so it is it’s a multi kit
basically so you got some nut setters
you’ve got socket adapter so half and a quarter inch
you’ve got power bits
so 50 mil and above in in there for impact drivers
and it’s it’s a handy kit
and probably the only thing that we could
try and find a way to squeeze in there would be a couple of our
our impact sockets
but failing that I think that’s a the perfect kit to take with you
it’s an all in one absolutely yeah
gets you out of trouble
what’s the weirdest or funniest use you’ve seen with a Sutton tool
I had a call almost 12 months ago now and it’s from Western Australia
so when when you call through the Sutton tools
we’ve got three options now
so you can either receive a patch through to customer service yeah
you can receive a patch through to our accounts team
or you can receive a patch through to receive some technical advice
okay alright
so providing you with the options
and just going straight through to where you need to be
sometimes when it comes to the technical advice
you’ll be put through to a state manager or a territory manager
depending on where you’re
you’re calling from at the time I was state manager for Vic
so I got a phone call from WA naturally yeah
and it was quite an interesting call to take
it was a farmer and from out that way
and I can’t remember exactly the
the town he was from
but it was very remote about 400 km from Perth I believe okay
maybe even a little more but
he was using our bimetal hole saws
to drill the bottom out of dog food cans
and then using those dog food cans as well
potentially irrigation props or something along those lines
so he was he was drilling out the bottom and he
and he sort of said oh
you know
I went to the shed and I got your hole saw out and and you know
it let go on me and he sent me a photo of it and it was our old viper
a light blue hole saw and so I said I’ll
I’ll get you sorted mate I’ll send you a new by metal one
so helped him out there and he’s very grateful
but that was the most obscure thing I’ve heard of
it does not hear that every day
there’s some other bits and pieces that our
wholesales have been used for
drilling out conduits in slabs and those kinds of things
to make sure we get it the right diameter and nice and fine
but which is an interesting one
electrical conduit in a concrete slab that that is a bit interesting
we had to sort of recommend a guide there to use our
our multi purpose hole saws to basically just take enough be
be wide enough in diameter to take the conduit out
without destroying itself on the concrete
yeah right
which I mean I think they’ve gone okay
but yeah certainly the dog food cans was interesting
that’s a very remote and very strange well
they just do things differently at that time
you gotta use everything on the farm
so make it work very creative
I love it we’ll pivot across to
I wanna talk about the future of something
so where do you see sort of
actually in the four years that you’ve been with Sutton
sort of what improvements do you think have happened
you know and what are some of the biggest highlights you
you can sort of say and then where do you see the next few years going
what’s what’s
it’s interesting cause the four years that I’ve been with Sutton
I joined we went into a second Covid lockdown
what a fun yeah
yeah that one
the the second
the first one was tough but the second one
I think for a lot of people was stunned yeah
that that was the straw that broke the camel’s back yeah
SO
it’s taken people and businesses and
you know people are still recovering
to be honest correct
yeah correct
and and some
some didn’t right
so there’s there’s a lot of businesses that didn’t come through it
and a lot of people as well
which is a shame but
we we had that obviously
and then you know
we’re all very excited to get back to work and get out there
and then 30th of January 2022
Kai Poi went to the ground to the credit of our leaders
and you know we are a family owned and operated business
so the Suttons are at the helm of of the business
they
they dug their boots in and rebuilt
so you know
from there there was a bit of delay on
on product development and it was really about how we can pivot
to ensure we’ve got enough supply of product for the market
of which we found out that we had
you know a fairly reasonable share of yeah
and what it did do though
is it highlighted for us where we might have had some deficiencies and
you know some of those deficiencies were about
where the market’s going so what technology’s been brought into it
whether that be we can use in the sales process when we’re in field
whether that’s in product development
and what we look to bring in and what the market’s asking for
you know what are we
what are we check out to R&D and say guys
this is what we’re seeing
what can you develop
so it it sort of dug out a lot of questions
and we spent a lot of time rebuilding over the last four years
yeah into a business that
you know
can put his chest out and throw his shoulders back
and walk with confidence once again
and I think we’ve done that pretty well
you know
we’re seeing a lot of exposure in the marketplace at the moment
our sales teams nationally are getting out there
and the new branding that
marketing and product development have brought
to us
is has been incredible
and gives us a really easy tool to go out there and say
let us brighten your shop
let us add value let us generate profit for you
let us be who we are at our core
and that is a solutions provider
in the cutting and threading tool industry
but you know then we’ve had our product development team on the side
looking at where we can you know
add some arms to that stacking comes through
we’ve launch our new range of measuring tools
and scrubbing tools within Carby Tools
so we’re giving that brand a bit of a
a facelift and a bit of notoriety
you know so there’s a
there’s a lot of strings that we’ve got to our bow
that we’ve realized and we can unlock these here
so grit determination and pure tenacity
respect and loyalty for our fellow colleague and fellow uh
industry devotee
if you will yeah
as a posh word people won’t believe I’m capable of that
ha ha ha sort of the highlight
we’re still here yeah
that’s the highlight
we’re still here providing a service to the market
where do you think and this is obviously this is off this is off the
this is just a different question
but we’d love to know ha ha ha
I’m just throwing under the bus sorry
here we go no
where does you know
something with over 100 years in the game
like where does that longevity come from
like where do you really think that
cause some businesses don’t survive two years
let alone 100 like what’s your opinion on sort of what gives it that
that longevity belief that we can keep going
we’ve we’ve got
we’ve got an obligation
you know we
the business has built itself into and
you know a
a position now where there is an obligation to the industry
and the people that make it what it is
right the people that work within the Sutton Tools family
yeah we’re
we’re a business that employs on a full time basis
just over 400 people globally
yeah with 150 of those being at Thomas Town
roughly 150 at Thomas Town
it’s a big office yeah
so and
and and the office is
the office is great the people within it are great
and I sit in that office now
and I can tell you that some of those people in there are
are incredible
and more incredible than they care to believe themselves
and but it’s the people out in
on the factory floor that are manufacturing the product for us
you know
that are out there in the hot days and out there in the cold days
and there’s not many heaters that can make it warm in winter
when you’re out in the factory
and there’s not too many aircons that can make it cool
when it’s the summer right
so they’re putting in the effort to make sure that we
in the office and we
out in the road have got something that we can go and sell
and
it it
I’d like to say we don’t leave anyone behind
you know and when we did have the fire it’s
you know right out
well pull the socks up and get on with it yeah
you know and then just catch your chips and then walk away no
no not at all
not at all and
and Jim Sutton was a big driver in that as well
so you know
said well
find a solution let’s move forward
so what makes us what’s
what’s made us hang around so long
I mean we’ve been through almost everything
yeah and come out the other side yeah
what’s the answer but other than grit
determination and you know
fulfilling the promise of
yeah certain tools yeah
the obligation to the market yeah
I love it I love it that
I love the longevity
I love the fact that you guys have been around for so long
and that you that you’re still pushing
pushing harder and you know
trying to create all these new
new innovations and testing new things and
and branching out into different brands as well and sort of
you know just growing that
that whole sudden brand is
is it’s really impressive to sort of sit by and watch
but we have to yeah
we have to so when you’ve been around as long as we have
I mean you’ve
you’ve got a big portion of the market anyway within
you know I
I like to say that we break our catalogues into thirds
and the first third of our catalogue is what people expect from us
yeah the remaining two thirds are what some people are surprised we do
yeah there’s a few strings to our bow
and there’s a few more that we can add to it
but it’s about how we communicate that to the market
we got an incredible team of people that wake up every morning
put the keys in the car and with your partnership with Carpentry Australia
and off they go and sell the service
which isn’t just product no
you know we’re much more than that
but they get out and they do that
so we’ve got to provide something for the sales team and the market to
to grow with and what do you think the next couple of years looks like
and sort of what you guys want to accomplish working alongside usS
is there any big plans or have you got any other ideas
I think it’s ramping up the exposure
to be honest with you how do we go to that next level
so now that we’re trying to get it
you know we’ve made a deliberate effort to
to increase
suppose our social media exposure
our attendance to events and how we present those events and what
what’s important to the people we’re presenting to
we understand that a little bit more now
so how do we evolve and go to that next level again
that’s the challenge for us now
and the challenge that we’re grabbing with both hands
as I said there was some filming that was done last week
and I’m sure some more filming will be done this week
and yeah they just
they’re continuing to churn it out
and yeah you know
and it’s not just fluff yeah right
it’s not just for the sake of doing it
it’s actually trying to grab some attention and
and get people on board which is what we need
but in in terms of Carpentry Australia
we we wanna continue to work with you to bring both brands to market
yeah right
highlighting the quality yeah
Carpentry Australia is not a fly by night
no right
so let’s see if there’s 108 years in Carpentry Australia
I’m sure there is yeah
so how how we
how we leverage off each other to ensure that we
we grow together and show the next generation of trades
and even the trades that are still going now that we’re here for you
and also don’t be afraid to reach out yeah
we we need to again we need to grow our
our product segment a little bit
we understand where we’re going with a
a couple of and I suppose product ideas we’ve got
and under a couple of different brands that we bring to market
we need to continue to get feedback from the market
so hopefully the platform continues to come to us as well well
I think that’s what we’ll be providing as well
so I think one thing that I’m really excited for
with our new member portal
and sort of what we’re launching on our website
and this is for all the members out there as well
we’ve we’ve got a new section on the website
where we’re gonna allow feedback for our different sponsors
for our different sort of services that we’re providing as well
and we’re also gonna have a bit of a direct link between
sort of our members and you know
the sponsors that we’re working with so it means if there is any
you know if anyone’s got any ideas
or if they’ve got any feedback about some of the stuff that someone’s
doing or that they’ve
they’ve wanted to ask a question for the past
you know
two months and that they haven’t been able to get it answered
we’re gonna sort of give them that opportunity to have a bit of a
an open line of communication and it’ll be really cool
to be able to do that and then with that also there will be
videos that I believe Sutton’s providing for the portal as well
some learning around your drill bits
and around sort of the safety of certain things
and yeah I just think that there’s
there’s so many cool things that are coming up
and I’m excited to sort of see it all come to life
absolutely I think that’ll be a really good platform as well
to highlight some of our capabilities that the
the open market might not be exposed to or aware of and yeah yeah
we’ve got an incredible team sitting in our special sales
department there that if there’s a solution that anyone requires
and there’s some brilliant people out there that that that come up with
some incredible solutions I mean even nail equip years ago
they’re in Little came up with
you know a guide basically that you’d put onto your yeah
circular saw and it’s for cutting ply bracing
hmm you know just to speed up the job and yeah
that that was a long time ago now
and I wasn’t with something then
and I was representing somebody else and walked in and inquired
what’s that all about and yeah yeah
so impressed I was quite impressed
and it’s
a lot of things are born from the ideas of people using a product
and having to use it in a way that it’s not
intended for but that’s the only way they can get that solution
so bring those ideas forward
there’s no there’s no silly idea and it might not be no
it could just be not now
we’ll have a look into it and come back to you
but we we need to get that feedback and the portal if
if you’re gonna open up a line of communication there
all four yeah
hundred percent the good bad and indifferent by the way
I mean we can’t they can’t all be rose coloured glasses so yeah
if there’s something that we’re we’re not doing right
we also need to hear that yeah
well one thing one thing and look
not one thing many things that you guys are doing right
I’ll harp on that for a moment is
I really wanted to talk about what we did up in Queensland and what Sutton was involved with with our Muddy Bar Helping Hand Day
now I think this was it was actually about a year ago now September
August September of 2024
we built one of the biggest decks around this house
that really needed some TLC
and this the Sutton crew helped us with feet on the ground
cause we’re obviously we’re based down here in Victoria
so any help we can get in
in the other states for these community events
we really you know we need it
yep and someone put their hand up and said yep
who do you need you know they sent two of their sales reps up there
that were there for probably
I think it was about two weeks
they sort of came in every day and sort of
you know we’re driving trucks and you know
delivering materials and picking up this
but then the the finished product
the fact that they were able to provide the whole deck was done with
you know with some products as well
so that was really cool that we had that angle of it
and yeah
I think it really sort of showcased what what you guys are all about
which is a fantastic product a fantastic service and really yeah
sort of the love for the industry that that
that was what I felt from it for sure yeah
no that’s good feedback
appreciate that
I think that might have been and please forgive me if I’m if I’m off
I think I might have been Sam and Paul that were there
that is that’s right yeah
so it was good and I think Sam
got himself in front of the camera for a little bit as well
and yeah that’s it said a couple of things
which is really
really good exposure for both Sutton and for Carpentry Australia
and look it’s you don’t have to be
forgive me but you don’t have to be a dickhead
ha ha ha ha alright
it’s OK there’s lots of things going on
in the world and everybody’s got something
yeah right
so provide add some value to someone’s day and be a smile to somebody
cause you don’t know what that might change
provide a helping hand
and the team up up north did a fantastic job doing that
yeah
and that that’s something that’s something everywhere we go
I mean it’s
we’re all the same happy to happy to provide a helping hand and
and be there if we can provide assistance in any way
that’s why not do it
I think we’re I’m super stoked that we’ve been able to
we’ve been able to sit down and sort of talk about how
how things have come to be
sort of where we’re heading and sort of what’s up next
but what’s
is there anything you can reveal sort of towards the end of the year what’s happening for Sutton before the end of 2025
or can we look forward to maybe a Christmas giveaway
or something like that
we got a couple of things on the go at the moment yeah
we’re just working
working through some of our promotional activity now
but we certainly wanna have a look at how we can
better do activations to the end user market
so that’s not selling directly to the end user
that is
how we can ensure that a promotion actually hits our intended market
so there are a couple of things that we’re looking at there
I can’t give anything away too great
certainly be 2026 calendar year
a few products that will be pushing the release button on
which is exciting so keep your eyes peeled
keep your eyes peeled I don’t
I don’t want to go and give
away any hard work that people have put in
so that’s okay I won’t steal their thunder
but make sure you do engage with our sales team
if you see me out and about
because yeah we love talking about our product
and we love talking about what is new
so if you do miss
an update or a notification doesn’t mean that it’s not out yet
so but James and
James and the team in there and sue
and
they’re pushing the button on a few exciting things at the moment
that they’ll release through our social media
so give us a follow
if you can that’s right
is it Sutton Tools Oz
what’s the uh Sutton Tools
so we’ve got Instagram
Facebook and for any
any businesses out there that want to
give us a follow on LinkedIn as well
we’ll be happy to share some content with you and
and give you a plug where needed as well
so let us know see helping everyone out absolutely
did I did James bring up to speed on sort of how I knew
how I know James and how we’ve got history
we went to school together didn’t we
we grew up we did actually go to school together for a little bit
and then I end up moving schools
but we grew up doing karate together
is that right yeah
so I’ve known him since I was about 5 or 6 years old and then yeah
it was just so funny running into him at Melbourne Polytechnic Patty
what’s going on I haven’t seen him for 20 years and
and then obviously we cross paths and he
he talked about how
he just loves the fact that we’re already working together
and yep it’s just it’s a small world yeah
that’s more we did some acting in the past as well
did you really yeah
it was embarrassing well
he’s a he’s a pretty good pretty good in front of the camera James
that’s right so you’re saying he knows karate does he
oh he knows karate
it’s cause he’s got he’s got to do something with those guns well
it’s terrifying because the bloke can already lift half of Australia
so yeah it’s
anyway I love to make sure I’m always very polite to him
that’s right that’s right no
he’s tough he’s tough no
he’s a rip off he’s a great bloke now well
we look
one last thing
what if if you were to leave any message from from today
you know if anyone who’s listening or is watched like
what’s the one thing that you’d like to say other than buy something
ha ha ha ha ha try something
try something yeah I’ll go a little bit deeper
I’ll go a little bit deeper love what you do love what you do yeah
throughout our life more often than we’re at home yeah
if if you’re lucky enough I’m very very lucky
I’ve got a family at home
and I like to walk through the front door to them
with a smile on my face after a good day
I like to get up in the morning and go to work happy yeah
so love what you do
it’s very important and money can be made anywhere
flashy things look good for a little while
but love what you do you’ll always be happy yeah
I think one of the main things that
that people forget is that a lot of the best things are free
you know that that all the flashy stuff well
that’s it’s great it’s good to be comfortable
it’s good to not stress about certain things
but really think about you know
the important stuff it doesn’t cost anything manners included
please and thank you is free but it gets you everything that’s right
well thanks for thanks for coming in and and talking about something
and look I love the partnership that we’ve got in place
and I think that we’re gonna continue to do great things together
likewise and I am before we do go
there is one last
sort of little exciting thing that’s gonna be involving Sutton
as well
is we’re launching a bit of a partnership with the today show with
with Carl Stefanovic and his
his co host and
and that is actually gonna be kick starting from the Carpentry Expo
yep so the morning of the Carpenter Expo
we’re gonna be going back and forth doing crosses with the today show
and this type of media coverage and the
the involvement that we’ve got and sort of how we’re expanding is
is only gonna be reinforcing
sort of the relationships that we’ve got with people like yourself
so that’s what you can be excited about in the future
very exciting yeah
very exciting so more more live coverage
more opportunities for us to you know
be utilizing some tools in that space and yep
it’s just that just some food for thought
well you know where we are
ha ha ha 3 78 so it went right to our town
ha ha ha don’t be afraid to knock on our door
and especially if it’s gonna have national coverage
yeah that’s right that’s right