The Brand Mowers & Chainsaws store is a Husqvarna Crown Dealer and one of the busiest sales and service centres in North Canterbury.

In 2019 the business was bought by Tony, Kerin, Simon and Emma Brand. As owners of Brand Logging, Brand Mechanical and Brand Earthmoving they invested a wealth of knowledge and experience to the store and a clear goal. “Our ambition for the store is to be the preferred mower and chainsaw shop in North Canterbury,” says Tony. “And renowned within New Zealand as an exceptional Husqvarna Crown Dealer.”

THE HISTORY

The story starts way back in the early nineties. At that time, the Government run New Zealand Forest Service Workshops in the Ashley Forest were closed down, making many staff redundant and leaving them jobless.

Malcolm Mead was one of these employees. As a Qualified Mechanic, he decided to set up his own mechanical workshop in the Ashley Forest, along with his late wife Daphne. This was the start of Mead Engineering Ltd. They hired many of the ex-forestry staff and became known as the “go to” mechanical and engineering business in North Canterbury, dealing with everything from cars to heavy machinery.

In 1991, Malcolm began working with Husqvarna NZ. There was no North Canterbury dealer for the brand and as the working relationship developed, Mead Mowers & Chainsaws was appointed as the Rangiora Dealer. The sales grew and due to the mix of town and country customers that they were targeting, the shop needed to move closer to the town centre. So, for seven years they had premises in Rangiora’s High Street where small repairs were done and Husqvarna products sold. They soon outgrew that space and moved to larger premises in Southbrook before eventually landing in the current, purpose-built premises on Flaxton Road. With a bigger showroom, parts department, offices, workshop and a huge customer car park – it’s a prime spot.

Over the years, the shop has built an incredible reputation amongst the community based on its knowledgeable staff, expertise and good old fashioned customer service. Gavin McClung managed the store for many years, clocking over 30 years’ service and was known for his industry knowledge-if Gavin didn’t know, it wasn’t worth knowing.

THE BRANDS CHANGE

In 2019 when the Brands bought the business from Malcolm - the burgundy and white Meads’ signage changed to the navy and white Brand Mowers and Chainsaws livery.

Having many years of expertise in the logging industry, Tony Brand brought a wealth of knowledge and ideas to the shop, along with a business acumen that has seen him continue to run a successful logging company throughout Canterbury. His reputation in the industry contributes to the ongoing success of the store. It means we have contacts and access to machinery that other dealers don’t have, we can organise chainsaw demonstration days with a truck load of logs to cut up, or access to a paddock across the road to demonstrate mowers to customers.

LET’S TALK MOWERS

Brand Mowers & Chainsaws is primarily a Husqvarna dominated shop and although we do sell Karcher, Masport, Tandem and a host of other suppliers’ product – the showroom is 95% orange.

On display is Husqvarna’s full range of chainsaws, ride-on mowers, hedge trimmers and brushcutters - from domestic home use designed gear through to commercial and professional product.

We are preparing for a bumper spring and with the uncertain world-wide shortage of stock, the team have been proactive in securing plenty of choice for customers. We are currently fully stocked across all models and have a great selection of mowers for every property. All of our mowers are eligible for Husqvarna’s 5-year warranty, and we will deliver them locally free of charge.

We also work with large companies, having just filled a sale of nearly a dozen mowers to dairy farms in the North Canterbury and Selwyn districts.

ROBOTIC MOWERS – CUTTING EDGE TECHNOLOGY

Husqvarna Robotic Auto-mowers, which are rated as one of the best in the world, are becoming more and more popular in North Canterbury, so if you are thinking of upgrading your ride-on, consider one of these as an option.

They are underestimated on their capabilities as a mower, having been designed to replicate the job of a ride-on mower, without the ongoing maintenance of one. The largest auto-mower will mow up to 5000m2 of lawn area at 208m2 per hour and mulch the daily growth that it cuts with its double-edged razor blades. Anywhere that a ride-on will mow, these will mow – with a better finish. There is even a four-wheel drive model suitable for mowing up to 70% slopes. These are no toy.

We offer a free, no obligation, property assessment and full installation service – alternatively, if you wish to install yourself, we will offer you expert advice and walk you through the install process. Come in and see Reuben to find out more about these mowers or if you want to get a property assessment underway.

THE WORKSHOP AND SERVICING

As well as selling mowers and related equipment – we also help customers maintain them.

In spring, the workshop is where it all happens, with mowers coming and going weekly by the dozen. We service and repair all makes and models of power equipment, from petrol generators, concrete floats and water blasters to ride on mowers, chainsaws, hedge trimmers and rotary mowers.

A pickup and delivery service is available twice a week as far afield as Oxford, Amberley, Loburn, Swannanoa and everywhere in between. With specialised industry equipment, the workshop offers full mechanical repairs and servicing, mower re-powers, chainsaw chain sharpening available next day, bar dresses and ride-on tyre fitting. We are also the chain sharpener of choice for logging and firewood merchants across Canterbury and Hurunui.

The parts department stocks a huge amount of genuine Husqvarna parts, including service products such as oils and lubricants, filters, blades, chainsaw bars and chains, as well as parts from suppliers such as Briggs and Stratton, Karcher and Honda. And if we don’t have it in stock, we can source and order in for customers. We also stock a large range of accessories, safety equipment and Oregon chainsaw chain.

Tony and the team at Brand Mowers & Chainsaws wish to thank the Rangiora and wider community for your ongoing support and we look forward to seeing you over the Spring. But you don’t have to wait for spring. Give us a call now or come by the shop, to book your equipment in and check out the fantastic mowers and chainsaws in our showroom.

275 Flaxton Road, Rangiora | sales@brandmowers.co.nz |Ph 313 6640 | www.brandmowers.co.nz

TIMELINE

1990 – Malcolm Mead starts Mead Engineering Ltd after the Government run New Zealand Forest Service Workshops in the Ashley Forest are closed down.

1991 – Malcolm Mead starts working with Husqvarna. The relationship develops and Mead Mowers & Chainsaws is appointed as the Rangiora Dealer for Husqvarna.

Early 90’s – Mead Mowers & Chainsaws moves to new premises on Rangiora High Street.

1998 – Mead Mowers & Chainsaws move to premises in Southbrook.

Early 00’s – Mead Mowers & Chainsaws moves to purpose-built premises on Flaxton Road

2009 – Tony and Kerin Brand buy Mead Engineering Ltd from Malcolm. A handshake deal is done and it is agreed that when the time came for Malcolm to sell the mower shop, the Brands would get the first offer to buy.

2019 – Tony, Kerin, Simon and Emma Brand buy Mead Mowers.

MEET THE TEAM

With the recent retirement of Gavin late last year, Steven Hunt who has been with the Company for over 15 years and has Managed the workshop and Technical team, was promoted to Store Manager and Reuben Warner was employed as the Sales Manager to replace Gavin in the Sales and Parts department.

Many of you will know Peter Frampton from the front counter who has been sourcing parts for customers of the shop for nearly a decade and Diane Wunsch in the office. There are now 5 technicians in the workshop, Lewis Baker who is highly experienced in anything small motor related – especially Stihl and Karcher products, Stuart Whiteley who assembles and runs up all of our new mowers and plant, Daryl Roe and newly employed Hamish Pulley – who are our auto-mower experts.

Tony’s daughter Gemma is also involved in the running of the store behind the scenes, along with Angela Baker who takes care of all our accounting needs. Tony can often be found filling in on the Saturday roster and covering for Sales when required. In the busy times, we also share Technicians from Brand Mechanical to help keep on top of the servicing work load.