INDUSTRY PEOPLE
MANAWATU
MAGIC: MUSKET
MUFFLERS
Musket Mufflers is a Manawatu-
based enterprise that started in
Taranaki over thirty years ago.
the businesses service quite different sectors of the public
and industry.
Once Colin and Vanessa had taken over Musket Mufflers,
they had to decide in which direction they wanted it to go.
The addition of the new business was at a time where
many specialist muffler businesses had experienced the
need to diversify into other areas, in order to supplement
their day-to-day work flow. For example, a muffler shop
might have decided to branch out into WOFs, servicing
and other general services. Colin and Vanessa made a
conscious decision not to go that route.
It was bought in 2013 by Palmerston North couple Colin
and Vanessa Farrington, who have a long history in the
automotive world in the Manawatu, and a keen interest in
quality, craftsmanship and nurturing local talent. “Over the years, because vehicles have got more reliable,
perhaps the work has plateaued, or some businesses have
diminished, which is why a lot of those businesses went off
and did other things, brakes and clutches, and therefore
they had to employ mechanics for their core business.
“The business (Musket Mufflers) was available for sale
and we were lucky enough to buy it five years ago,”
Vanessa explains.
Musket Mufflers, now situated in Palmerston North, is a
specialist muffler shop. In a large space on Tremaine Ave,
it sits alongside the Manawatu Muffler Centre, although “Basically, instead of worrying about the numbers of staff
and trying to keep them busy, we’ve just tried to remain
profitable and as a specialist, because if we’d gone out
and included other services in our business, it would just
dilute what we’re about.”
The move to get the Musket Mufflers gear from New
Colin and Vanessa Farrington.
This is a monthly series on businesses in our industry. We profile one business per month to find out how our hard-working
business owners, employees and contractors manage to run these specialist businesses and what makes them tick in the
New Zealand trade business environment. These are the stories of our CAM people.
w w w. c a m m a g a z i n e . c o . n z
CAM December 2018
65