Southland community embraces Winton

PlaceMakers is delighted to open its new store in Winton, its fourth location in the Southland region

With an official opening planned for October, it will be a “small store that packs a punch”, according to Joint Venture Operator (JV) Ron Jeffcoat.

Four staff will be on hand to serve the community across trade and retail, with an impressive CV between them. With 20 years’ experience as a builder, Blake Johnstone will head the store assisted by Judas Wynan-Wilde (16 years with Craig Pine sawmill as a logistics manager), Chelsea Smith (three years as a builders’ labourer) and Jeremy Robertson (five years with ITM and PlaceMakers Invercargill).

Ron himself is no stranger to the trade – the experienced operator has spent 19 years working in the building and plumbing industries – but the thing he loves most is dealing with people.

“I’ve dealt a lot with tradies over the years, but I’d say my claim to fame is building culture and teams – I really enjoy people management.”

Community-focused store

PlaceMakers has carved out a bit of a reputation in Southland for its outstanding service and the way it embraces local causes – and Ron is determined to enhance the brand’s legacy.

“Down here, we’re affectionately known as Fortress Southland and that’s because we have an amazing team of professionals, who enjoy coming to work and are passionate about what we do as a group,” says Ron. “We hunt down opportunities and build great long-term relationships with our clients. And, with four stores, we cover Southland well.”

Ron has earned the right to say he serves the whole Southland community.

PlaceMakers is an active part of life down south and supports a number of causes and charities – the biggest of which is the biannual 50cc Southern Scooter Challenge. This year it raised $110,000 for Hospice Southland and The Charitable Hospital.

The Southern Scooter Challenge is an endurance ride from Bluff to Queenstown that fundraises for local charities and attracts more than 100 riders every event. It also doubles up as an awareness-raising event for cancer survivors, families of those with cancer and those committed to making a difference. Organised by PlaceMakers Invercargill Internal Key Account Manager Tash Clay, the bi-annual event is a community staple that Ron is proud to be part of.

“I love the event and I’ve got seven scooters myself, so I always get behind it 100%. I’m incredibly proud of the support PlaceMakers Foundation lends to the Southland teams organising the Scooter Challenge, as well as the work we do with Sharks Basketball and smaller local fundraisers throughout Southland.”

The time was right

With branches in Invercargill, Te Anau and Gore, the time was right to move into Winton – and customers are pleased to see it too!

“We had already established clientele in the area and it was time to begin this journey – Winton is in central Southland and it’s a market we wanted to get closer to and service,” says Ron. “Trade and retail customers have been very happy to see us and we are proud to offer them an excellent product range and knowledgeable branch staff.

“Our store location is in a convenient spot and when customers pop in, they see local staff who understand their needs.”