Daring plunge into business has smooth finish

Hayden Russell has taken the business plunge. Photo/Bevan Conley

When you've got a passion, pursue it, just as Hayden Russell has done.

An unfinished panel beating apprenticeship certainly did not diminish his interest in the craft - the 25-year-old went out and set up his own company.

Now HDC Panelbeating is open for business at 196 Taupo Quay, beside Mitre10 Mega.

A Wanganui boy, Mr Russell is leasing his workshop complete with its spray painting booth and has had so much work that he has taken on a full-time employee.

He had worked in Palmerston North for about two years but came back to Wanganui to look for more permanent work.

"But when the bloke I was working for ran out of work, I decided to start out on my own."

He had looked for full time work with other businesses but when that came to nothing he bit the bullet and set up on his own.

"It really started when I was doing a few perk jobs after work. Then I started getting more and more work. It really spiralled out of control so that's when I decided I'd set up on my own."

He has since developed some regular customers who send him work but says the business has grown largely by word of mouth.

He has just taken on a full-time employee.

"We just got way too busy with work coming in and I couldn't do it on my own."

Mr Russell said taking on an employee had been "scary" but was a positive sign for the business.

HDC Panelbeating does all manner of repairs, from removing rust spots for a Warrant of Fitness to spray painting.

He has been working long hours, sometimes up to 12 hours a day and also on weekends.

"I didn't think I'd be in this position at this stage of my life but it's working out all right," he said.