Helping Tyres Direct save with shipping containers

When Grant Forrest first bought Tyres Direct in Auckland, he couldn’t have predicted that three years later, he’d be running the business out of shipping containers on the East Coast. Today, Grant and his team are proudly serving retailers across New Zealand from their innovative setup in Gisborne.

So, why the switch to shipping containers? We had a chat with Grant to find out.

Moving the business closer to home

“When we took a step back and thought about it, using shipping containers was a no-brainer,” says Grant. “We’ve had Harris Tyres in Gisborne for years. We’re proud Gizzy locals and we love it here. When we acquired Tyres Direct, I was making frequent trips to Auckland, and eventually I got over the commute. So, we decided it was time to move the business closer to home.”

The move happened faster than expected. “We thought we’d have some time before our lease in Auckland was taken over,” Grant explains. “But it got snapped up almost immediately. That pushed us to get everything sorted in Gisborne a lot faster than we planned.”

Shipping containers more cost-effective than leasing a warehouse

Initially, they considered leasing a warehouse in Gisborne, but with rates at about $95 per square metre of floorspace, and the market being what it was, they didn’t want the extra overheads. They already had a sizeable yard in Gisborne, so they brainstormed ways to maximise it. They had some shipping containers from Container Space for Harris Tyres’ storage and realised it made sense to use more containers for their new setup.

“Switching to shipping containers cost us around $10 per square metre,” Grant says. “Comparing that to $95 for a warehouse or the expense of building something ourselves, the container option was a no-brainer.”

The value of personal and prompt service

Grant reached out to Container Space, and their spacemaker Deon Mauger, got on to it quickly. “They were fantastic to work with. They came up with a plan and made sure the containers arrived on time,” Grant recalls. “What really impressed me was their personal touch. A few weeks after finalising everything, Nick Walker, their Managing Director, dropped by to see how we were settling in. It meant a lot that he took the time to visit.”

As a business that values personal service, Grant appreciated Container Space’s approach. “We’re all about honesty,” he says. “If someone doesn’t need new tyres, we tell them straight. We do right by our customers because that’s just how we operate.”

What’s next for Tyres Direct? Grant says, “We’ll keep looking after our customers with Harris Tyres and continue to grow Tyres Direct, all right here from our home in Gisborne.”

Need cost-effective space for your business?

If you’re looking for a cost-effective alternative to warehouse space, we can help you create the space you need using our shipping containers. Get in touch with our spacemakers, and we’ll make it happen.

If you’re after a reliable tyre shop in Gisborne, get in touch with Harris Tyres at admin@harristyres.co.nz or call their friendly team on 06 867 0728. You can also follow them on Facebook.

And if you’re a tyre retailer who needs a trustworthy supplier, drop an email to Grant and the team at Tyres direct sales@tyresdirect.co.nz.