INDUSTRY PEOPLE
Despite the need to move alongside the ever-evolving
digital world, though, much of the work carried out by
Callum and Geemac is customer-focussed and entails
traveling around the country, and Callum will continue
to foster close relationships with established and new
clients.
Time and time again in these Industry Profiles, business
owners have commented that while the internet has
become an integral part of communication regarding
what the business actually does, there is nothing like
face-to-face contact or a phone call to really get to the
heart of the client’s needs.
Callum’s youth is on his side, but it’s not as if Gordon
and Jan are ready to fully retire just yet. They have
plenty of vigour and with the sector of public transport,
particularly in Auckland, constantly expanding, there is
plenty of scope to grow the business even more.
The last addition to the company’s swag of products,
Hanover LED signs, has coincided with the desire for
bus companies to provide better, more visible signage
to commuters.
It’s hard now to remember a time when you’d be standing
at a bus stop with only a bus number and a vague idea of
when the bus might be turning up. The LED signs have
changed all that.
However, the core philosophy of Geemac is primarily the
comfort and safety of the drivers, says Gordon.
“The evolution of health and safety in this country is
huge,” he says. “In the transport industry there are so
many factors to consider in terms of the long-term health
and comfort of the typical driver.
“This is why we chose to go with the Isri seats, and they
have an extensive warranty, and we’ve had no problems
with them. If you fit out your vehicle with an Isri seat,
you’d be unlikely to have to worry about replacing it for
a long time. A driver could do a million kilometres in one
before it would need replacing.
Callum McKendry is to join Geemac Trading (NZ) Ltd in April.
golf course at Omaha. He remains somewhat quiet
about his handicap, but the images around the house
show a long and successful fishing career.
When asked about highs and lows in the 30 years of
business, Gordon is philosophical.
“The other factor in supplying these seats is that they
are highly sophisticated. With the push of
“We’ve achieved what we “I can’t think of any real lows, although
a button, an operator can make the seat
wanted to which is to have the early years were hard work, raising
harder or softer. In a 12-hour shift on an
the market share of high- a young family, me being overseas. But
uneven surface, this is crucial.”
quality European parts for the we’ve achieved what we wanted to which
Geemac has been the exclusive supplier transportation sector.”
of Isri seats since 1991, and the Hanover
sector.
signage for over 20 years.
Moving out of the “hot seat” a little means there will be
more time for the McKendrys to indulge in leisure time.
Gordon is fishing-crazy and can also be found on the
70
CAM April 2019
is to have the market share of high-quality
European parts for the transportation
“We never came into this thinking we just wanted to
flood the market with cheap parts and gain the lion’s
share that way.
w w w. c a m m a g a z i n e . c o . n z