WITH a fixed focus on delivering exceptional customer service as well as supplying a diverse range of industrial fasteners, fixings, abrasives and tools to the construction and related industries, Ultimate Fasteners has had over the last 15 years, quite simply, the nuts and bolts to grow from a two-man operation into a thriving and responsive enterprise.
Opening its doors on January 1, 2008, Ultimate Fasteners was the conception of co-owners Dean Jones and Mark Shanahan, two colleagues who had spent over twenty years working together before biting the bullet to go out on their own.
Beginning with a small showroom, an office and some stock, Dean and Mark saw an opportunity in the market that was too good to miss, and it wasn’t long before their perceptiveness, determination and hard work paid off.
Hiring their first employee just one month after commencing operation, the co-owners joined-up with Construction Supply Specialists (CSS) eight months later, forging an advantageous and valuable relationship to this day.
A leading buying, marketing and promotional group serving the construction, mining and industrial sector, CSS is a nationwide alliance harnessing the collective volume of around 80 businesses to generate corporate multi-national buying power, resulting in competitive prices passed onto the customer.
“We started Ultimate Fasteners in January 2008 and joined CSS by September that year. Basically, the names behind the brands, CSS have supported us very strongly from the beginning in marketing and dealing with suppliers. It has been a beneficial experience for us, and our membership has opened doors that we’d never have opened on our own, CSS’ marketing is something we hang our hat on,” Dean said.
Rapidly growing their presence in the region’s marketplace, Ultimate Fasteners not only expanded their team but their premises in Mitchell Street in 2011, moving into the rear of their building to significantly expand their floor space from 368sqm to 750sqm.
In mid-2015, the prosperous business grew again opening a second store in Wodonga and later, IMPACT-A Fasteners and Construction Supplies in Bendigo in 2018.
Now with 14 staff onsite at its original branch servicing not only the Goulburn Valley but large portions of Victoria itself, Ultimate Fasteners have moved to 67 Williams Road, Shepparton, allowing the business once again to expand its operation, responding to ever diversifying volume and demand.
“When people walk into our new building, they will see the change. Not only is everything now under the one roof, but we’ve added space to our showroom as well. When our customers enter the front door, they’ll be able to see everything they need set out from front to back before them, allowing us to serve them from the counter with greater speed and efficiency.
“People will see more products on display in each supplier layout because as we’ve grown, so has our supplier offering, it’s very much a two-way street. Our Milwaukee Experience Centre has, for example, grown from its previous 2x2m space to its new 7x7m presentation in the new store,” Dean said.
With a grand opening sale coinciding with end of financial year discounts taking place across Thursday and Friday, June 22-23, the opportunity to see first-hand Ultimate Fasteners’ impressive and extended premises is simply too good to be missed and is the perfect chance to congratulate another of the region’s most inspiring entrepreneurial success stories as it takes its next forward step.
