They say that hindsight is always 20/20. Around this time, when the new year is still reasonably fresh, we look back to see what last year was all about with a few snapshots of 2021. And we’re pleased to say that there were lots of good news stories in a tough 12 months.
The year in numbers
We’re pretty delighted that last year more people joined our Design Builders family. We said ‘welcome aboard’ to new staff members in our Wellington office. Meanwhile, the Design Builders offices in Bay of Plenty, Taupo and Waikato each grew by one new person. And Hawke’s Bay took on another two staff. And our services team grew by five.
Southbound!
We’ve got the North Island well and truly covered, but we’ve had a long-standing goal to get into the mainland. In 2021, we did it. Design Builders Canterbury opened its doors in August and has been going great ever since. The office is headed up by Paul, Kaye and Alex Caddick, a talented trio who have plenty of experience in real estate and the building industry.
Natural high
With a nod to nature, and perfectly positioned on a ridge leading to a pristine reserve, Design Builders Wellington’s showhome was a showstopper. The Harbour View two-storey home was officially opened for viewing in April, with visitors being welcomed to see what Managing Director Mark Davidge and the expert team from Design Builders Wellington had created.
Out and about
When we’re not designing and building, we love to inspire Kiwis about the possibilities of owning an original one-off home. We hit the road with a series of seminars covering the ins and outs of ‘a home built around you’, from initial brief to handing over the keys, and even covered topics as diverse as subdividing, consent and interior design. And our teams were also on hand at home shows across the country.
House of the Year Awards tally
We’re always excited about Registered Master Builders House of the Year award, and 2021 was no exception. Several client homes were awarded and the tally included 4 Golds, 2 Regional category winners, 1 Regional Lifestyle Sustainable Award, and 1 home in the Top 100. Click here to read more.
In-house award news
We also like to celebrate our team’s achievements with our very own Design Builders in-house awards. Rebekah Whittaker, who is our financial coordinator, collected the well-deserved ‘Core Values’ award. Design Builders Hawke’s Bay walked off with the ‘Shiny Shoes’ award and the ‘Goldie’ award, while Design Builders BOP got the ‘Muddy Boots’ mention, along with ‘Strongest Growth’. CEO Andrew Price won, if that’s the right word, the ‘Blooper’ award for falling foul of a phishing email.
30 years
This year Design Builders celebrates 30 years in business. While we look back and celebrate the journey that got us here, we know it’s just as important to look forward … to the next 30 years. Over the coming few months, we will be pointing our spotlight at the success stories, the people and the places from our 30-year journey.
The final word
Well, 2021 was a year with no shortage of challenges and surprises. We asked CEO Andrew Price to sum it up. Pricey said: ‘I’ve seen it bring tension, challenges, problems and stress and I’ve also seen it bring our incredible determination, innovative thinking, mental toughness, empathy and understanding. From basically a cold start post Covid in early 2020 to record on record years, I am proud to have retained and grown our people and expertise.’