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Bill and Rose had five children, two of his sons Jim and Bill
Jnr eventually entered the business. Jim started an apprenticeship in 1975 under the
strict guidance of Bill Snr. Jim soon mastered not only the trade but also the skills
necessary to manage projects profitability both large and small. Bill Jnr. joined in 1982
after completing his Quantity Surveying qualification and an eight year stint in a
professional Quantity Surveying practice.
In late 1985 the two
sons purchased the business from their father. The second generation took the business to
new heights where today they employ in excess of 80 staff with offices in both Auckland
and Tauranga operating nationally.
Bill Snr. started to
gradually phase himself out of the business in 1985 and the sons started to take more
control and inject their influence and enthusiasm into the future of the business. |
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- Having served his time as
a Carpenter Joiner in and around Glasgow, Bill Snr. immediately set about finding work.
After a short period he quickly realised his skills were in demand and this allowed him to
venture into business on his own, and so it all began. From very humble beginnings (a bike
and a kit of tools) Bill set about establishing the foundations for what is now The
Gartshore Group.
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- Bill’s disciplined
work ethics combined with his exceptional drive and skill quickly earned him a reputation,
and his business steadily grew.
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- In 1962 there was a
shortage of skilled labour in the building industry, particularly in joinery. The demands
of his clients, coupled with the labour shortage and Bill’s desire to keep his
clients happy, forced him to start making his own joinery in the basement of his home.
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- Excessive demand for
these services soon saw him take the plunge and buy nearly one acre of scruffy low lying
swamp, with no access, in the Courtney Road basin. Draining and filling the swamp on
weekends and nights, Bill reclaimed sufficient land to build an 8m x 6m shed and park one
vehicle. This was to become his joinery factory and builders shed. Today that scruffy
swamp houses a 25000 sq ft factory complex with still more room to expand and a fleet of
over 18 vehicles.
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