Featured Dealer: Shaun O’Donnell, Davidsons Ltd, Rotorua

It's all in the family for this deep-rooted Rotorua business. Begun in 1980, before Garador was borne from AHI, Davidson's Limited will soon be handed on to the third generation of O'Donnells.

After more than four decades, Davidson's has quite the household name in Rotorua. We caught up with the owner and General Manager of the Garador Dealership, Shaun O’Donnell for a chat about the business that has held onto customers and staff for generations.

When asked about his role in the business he joined in 1986 with a one-third share, former civil engineer Shaun O'Donnell tells us his title is General Manager and Salesperson. Then he adds, "But I’m just one of the team, really. I don’t expect my staff to do anything I wouldn’t do, so if there’s rubbish in the bin that needs squashing down, I get in there and do it". It's the type of hands-on attitude on which we Kiwis pride ourselves. "Principally, I’m a salesperson; my biggest role is quoting. Most of our business comes through the phone, fuelled by longevity in the industry. You build contacts over the years, that keeps me going". Shaun feels that those relationships, along with a reputation built over decades, have helped the business to thrive through the ups and downs of the building industry in an area typically short of land suitable for new builds due to a lack of infrastructure.

Garador's Aspen is a popular choice among Davidson's customers.

Davidsons' busy, multi-faceted operation runs out of 71 Marguerita Street, Fenton Park, servicing the Rotorua district. As well as the garage door and commercial door side, another side of the business run by Gary, who has been part of the team for 15 years, supplies Home Plus products. There's a huge range on offer, such as balustrades, awnings, showers, mirrors, wardrobe doors and systems, sun screens, fly screens and security doors. There's also a branch offering blinds, previously under the Ven-lu-ree brand.

Shaun's son Ryan runs the garage door side of the business. The plan is for Ryan to take over management once Shaun retires in the not-too-distant future. "I’m looking forward to being able to transition out (of the business) on my own terms when Ryan takes over", Shaun tells us. "I’ve got a couple of years of hard work in me yet, and while I have my health and fitness, I’ll carry on - but to a lesser capacity as time goes on. You’ve got to remove yourself and let someone else step up. I appreciate my leisure time; weekends are precious as the work has been hectic and demanding for a while now". 

Bespoke garage doors by Davidson's always use Garador components.

Davidson's services under the Garador distributorship include supplying, installing, and servicing garage doors, commercial doors, gates, and motors. The whole team is qualified in all aspects of garage doors, so they can cross over as necessary, which makes economic sense. "If they’re installing in a certain area, they will check to see whether servicing is required in that area and complete both jobs on the same day", says Shaun. For the most part, though, Ryan, Billy and Damien install garage doors, Noel takes care of repairs, and Shaun's brother Simon (also a shareholder in the business) specialises in custom doors while being proficient in repairs and servicing. Locals can spot the crew around town in their Hyundai vans with Davidson's sign writing. 

The team in the office includes Shaun's wife Delyce on Payroll, Office Manager Sharyn, Nigel in Sales, Terrina and Shelia. Customers are welcome to visit the cosy showroom with its interactive roller door and an Aspen sectional door. However, Shaun notes that buying decisions often get made by customers viewing Garador's website. Walk-in customers are generally after parts such as remotes and accessories, often having been referred by hardware stores. 

Partner Garador's Nevada with our Genius opener for top-of-the-range convenience and automation.

Shaun notes that Aspen + insulation and similar flat panelled doors (Sierra and Nevada) are popular with his customers when discussing trends in garage doors and accessories. "We’ve also made custom doors for many years and they’re still very popular. We have a big presence in the commercial door market and we install a lot of Series 2 commercial roller doors", he tells us. What about smartphone technology? "Using apps isn’t something that a lot of customers in the area have grown up with, but for the younger crowd, it’s an essential part of their lives", Shaun says.

When Shaun's brother-in-law (and part owner) left the country in 1995, the business needed a bit of a spark, and better advertising was the answer. So they created a radio ad, the jingle for which is still in use! “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”, Shaun laughs. Based on the old 'Camptown Ladies' ditty ('Do doors, do doors'), the jingle still gets comments all these years later. "I’m a great believer in consistency with advertising; it’s something you've got to do. People might not think it’s worthwhile, but you’re sewing seeds that eventually germinate and grow.” Shaun also believes in frequency rather than saturation, so that old ad plays away and stays in the minds of his customers. "When someone is in buying mode, we want to be on their shopping list".

Above, left: Davidson's Ltd premises at 71 Marguerita Street, Fenton Park.

With longevity emerging as a theme, we discussed the importance of protecting your investment in a garage door with regular servicing and maintenance, something Shaun stresses to his customers. He comes up with an excellent point. "In most houses, the garage door is the main entry in and out of the home, so it's the most-used door on the property. People have been indoctrinated to get their cars serviced, but they don't think the same way about the garage door. When we sell a  garage door, the customer will get a reminder email 12 months later that a service is due".

Shaun's also in community support for the long haul. "I've always been part of committees," he says, "it's part of my makeup. I've had 25 years of involvement with our local athletic club. I was president for a while there." In addition, Davidsons supports the local Hospice. "They have our doors, so if something needs doing over there, we'll go in and get it done. As with the local rescue helicopter, we do lots of little things here and there, as many businesses do. I believe you have to give back to your community. It's my way of contributing."

Garador's Sierra

Spending many years in one area for one business serving the same community might not suit some people. When asked what he loves about his job, Shaun's answer was immediate. "It's the people. When I retire, that's what I'll miss the most. You meet a lot of great people, customers and also throughout the industry. I've seen a lot of people come and go, and we're all of the same ilk, hard grafters. And I enjoy the work; it varies every day". Shaun also values the support that being a Garador dealer provides. "We've been fortunate to have Garador as our brand. They are leaders in the industry". Likewise, Shaun appreciates the value he can add to people's lifestyles with a new garage door. "You're providing a solution. If you go back to when we first started in the business, having a door opener was a luxury item that only the wealthy could afford - the rich and famous had them - whereas it's a commodity item nowadays. We sell very few doors that don't have an automatic opener along with them. So you're providing people with solutions, and they get a buzz out of it. They can push a button, and their door opens by itself, plus there are all the other things that go with it, like smartphone operation. So you're making people happy, which is always nice".

You can get in touch with Shaun and his team online here, drop into Davidsons Ltd at 71 Marguerita Street, Fenton Park, Rotorua from Monday-Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, or phone direct on (07) 348 6383.

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