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It was 1978… New Zealand had beaten England in a cricket test for the first time, everyone wore flares and big-box hardware shops were decades away. In this year Leon Brodie founded the partnership LR & RA Brodie to supply hardware to local shops.
In the 1990s Leon moved the company to a town that ticked all the boxes: a family-oriented lifestyle, a busy port and the beginnings of an industrial area. Here in Timaru, he set about laying the foundations for the family company.
By the end of the 1990s the company had shifted focus, now supplying a range of cotton products to department stores and supermarkets around New Zealand. A warehouse and office block was constructed in the emerging industrial area, creating a purpose-built hub for the national distribution of imported goods.
As the young Brodies entered the workforce the average age of employees shifted too. They started to learn the business from the ground up (literally). Time was spent sweeping floors, unloading containers, packing for dispatch and even accompanying Leon on the odd sales trip.
In 2008 we received some discerning advice – there’s a strong future ahead in the accommodation sector. Accordingly, the partnership altered their direction to focus on supplying quality, commercial bed linen to hotels in New Zealand and the South Pacific. In July of that year Vendella International was born. We were a little ‘underweight’ to begin, with two staff (Leon and Luke), one computer, and one phone. Friends and family put in huge hours and effort to get things moving, and in the first month we posted $300 in sales! The secret to getting ahead is getting started right?
By 2014 the company as we know it was starting to take shape. Growth of 25-30% year on year allowed us to recruit the expertise needed to sustain the success. Investing in our excellent team certainly paid dividends. We were now playing on a larger field, trusted by the industry for our knowledge and agile and responsive in our service.
In 2017, we concentrated on securing our foundations and creating space for future projects. After a period of rapid growth it was time to take stock and think about what matters for the future Vendella!
We invested in a new address.
Shifting store increased our warehouse space by 560% and office space by 150%. By doing this meant we’re able to clarify our focus and hone our systems to support the next phase of growth. With a stronger base to build from, we doubled-down on our strengths.
Customer service was taken to an ever higher level, we introduced ‘LEAN’ principles to all aspects of the company, made new hires and expanded our product range.
The net result? We were ready to tackle the future!
The Covid years challenged us in many ways but it never broke us, it just made Vendella stronger. The same month the Government closed the borders, we acquired Hospitality Textiles, and formed Vendella Group.
This acquisition gave us the product options, solutions and staff to expand the company into other markets; Aged Care, Staff & Student Accommodation. Our work in the Care, Guest and Supply sectors provides our renowned level of service on a bigger stage.
2022 will be remembered as the year we spread our wings. New Zealand, Australia, Pacific Islands… we love this region and for many years we had be fielding requests from all over but the timing wasn’t right, until ’22.
Expanding reminds us of our beginnings… Hard work and perseverance. The blood, sweat and tears approach is a bit of a cliché but for us it’s real and it is why we truly appreciate the results today and the potential of tomorrow.
From the first step, Vendella has been built on a relentless desire to improve. We don’t settle for the status quo. We motivate and innovate, generate and elevate. We deliver a customer experience unmatched in our industry – one we’d love to share with you in the near future.
Join our journey.
We’ve invested in a website that delivers a seamless shopping experience. Our website makes browsing and purchasing easy with product categorisation, sorting and filtering options, and regular updates.
Plus, we provide expert advice on topics including product care, creating atmosphere, market trends and more. We’re passionate about providing high-quality products, but also sharing knowledge to help you succeed in the industry.
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