Warkworth Events & Party Hire operates from premises leased at 5 Morrison Drive. Photo / Supplied
An established events hire company harnessing the population, recreational and tourism growth north of Auckland City, is now on the market for sale.
Warkworth Events & Party Hire operates from leased premises just west of the town's CBD, providing marquees and catering equipment for weddings, corporate, family celebrations and many other outdoor occasions.
It is being sold by LINK Business broker Brett Clarkson, who sees opportunities for a new owner to thrive supporting the numerous events held, "in the many seaside and rural locations that are virtually on the doorstep of New Zealand's largest city".
Clarkson describes an operation "with an inside-track" when it comes to providing marquees and equipment required to support the full suite of outdoor events.
He says these include weddings, school fairs, balls, parties, corporate launches, council functions, Christmas and New Year gatherings, barbecues and sporting and family occasions.
"This operation has been ably built-up and developed over the last five years by Simon Coleman, a seasoned operator who can call upon 20 years' experience in the hire business," says Clarkson.
"Simon runs a tight ship — employing a single full timer plus three-to-four part timers, as required.
"His company's extraordinary growth potential is evident from the increase in annual profits over about the last 12 months. These have risen from a level of about $60,000 last year, to a current total of about $120,000.
"On top of that, expectations are that this growth will continue, with bookings for this summer already 20 per cent ahead of this time last year."
Clarkson sees more than one reason behind this rapid growth.
"Keep in mind that Warkworth Events & Party Hire serves Auckland's northern recreational playground. It's a vast area comprising the Hibiscus Coast and Rodney, (including the length of State Highway 16, all Mahurangi, Matakana and Leigh in the south); right through to more far-flung parts of the Kaipara, Dargaville, Mangawhai and Mangawhai Heads. Aucklanders need areas to spread out and enjoy themselves, and Warkworth Events & Party Hire gives them the means to do this.
"The company supplies the full range of tents and marquees, plus all the equipment required to stage a party. It has everything from the glasses and cutlery, through to the seats, chillers, barbecues and more.
"It operates coast-to-coast, across that vast rural area between Auckland and Whangarei — sometimes even further north.
"These marquees get pitched in every beautiful location that the city people go to celebrate; including farms, regional parks, coastal resorts, schools and domains."
Clarkson says part of the reason for the rapid growth of the business is that times have changed.
Holding private functions and weddings outdoors is now seen as a more economic way of entertaining larger groups, he says.
"And speaking of current trends, it's interesting that bookings are now commonly being made from overseas. Clients include many expatriate Kiwis returning home to get married; sometimes families organising their welcome-home parties.
"Marquees have always provided an excellent party venue, delivering plenty atmosphere and all that extra buzz, noise and fun. With a marquee there's no hall hire to worry about, or the many other constraints of an indoor venue."
Clarkson believes that the opportunity to take sales to a new level are obvious.
"An experienced caterer could incorporate their own hospitality skills into the business; they could begin to cater for events within the marquees."
Also, Clarkson points out that the business has yet to fully tap the vast promotional opportunity provided by social media.
"For example, a younger person could put to work social media marketing skills, such familiarity with Instagram, which has not been used up to this point.
"As for Simon, he feels he has really met all his goals, and is now keen to take a break and experience a change of pace and scene. He looks forward to moving into a sales role in another industry."
Warkworth Events & Party Hire was established and originally owned by McEntee Hire, which sold to Kennards Hire before the present vendor took over, providing the present name.
However, the company's online entity trades under the moniker, Utterly Marquee Hire.