Prospect Electrical Wholesalers
Big future prospects
By Richard Mead.
This article appeared in Electrical Gems Issue 85, June—July 2008
As one of the founding members of Gemcell celebrates 30 years of successful trading, Electrical Gems pays tribute to a small company with big prospects for the future.
Back in March this year, Prospect Electrical Wholesalers quietly turned thirty. But the celebrations were soon to come in April, on a cruise on Sydney Harbour. While Prospect's customers enjoyed the festive atmosphere and drank in the splendours of Sydney Harbour by night, owners Paul and Julie Maher reflected on thirty years of hard work, achievement and reward.
"In the beginning we had some problems getting support from a few suppliers as their attitude towards the smaller wholesaler was not favorable. But with determination, and support from Gemcell, we proved we were there for the long haul."
Paul Maher, Owner, Prospect Electrical Wholesalers
For any business, thirty years is a milestone that only the most successful ever reach. It takes a special combination of good judgement, tenacity and people skills to grow and prosper in a competitive business environment. But grow and prosper they have.
Paul & Julie are proud to have presided over the development of Prospect Electrical, moulding it into the strong and efficient business it is today, yet they attribute their success to many things; their loyal staff and customers for one, support from suppliers, and guidance and buying power from Gemcell have all helped them to reach their enviable goal.
In the beginning, Prospect Electrical Wholesalers first commenced trading in March 1978 with a staff of 4. Initially Paul and Julie rented the premises at Unit 1/20 Forge Street, Blacktown. But amazingly, within about 18 months, good management and tight financial control was enough to convince their bank to allow the Mahers to finance the purchase of the premises - the warehouse from which Prospect Electrical still operates today.
The late 1970s and 1980s were not the easiest times for small independent electrical wholesalers. Companies backed by the "big end of town" were setting up chains of stores with much greater buying power than the small independent, who was being priced out of business. "In Forge Street Blacktown, there had always been two opposition wholesalers in the same street," explained Paul. "This made it even harder for us to compete."
By the end of the 1980s, the only answer for many small businesses that wished to survive and retain their independence was to form a group of their own. And so in 1991 a small band of independent electrical wholesalers formed Gemcell. Prospect Electrical Wholesalers was one of the six founding members of the Gemcell group.
"Our business is built on service and delivery, and our aims are to provide quality products at a competitive price without sacrificing service," said Paul. "Gemcell gave us greater buying power, plus the opportunity to provide our customers with the flexibility to purchase goods whenever they are in different parts of Australia, without us having to expand our business."
"We may not have grown greatly in numbers, our staff being only six, but we have grown considerably in strength," Paul added. "Our success has been achievable largely due to the dedication of our loyal staff. One member has been with us since the beginning and two other members have been with us for more than 20 years. Together, our staff can honestly claim to have a collective combined knowledge of more than 150 years."
No one could say that the last 30 years have all been plain sailing for Prospect Electrical. But the company has weathered both stormy and calm seas alike and it's future prospects look buoyant.
And so, on Saturday 12th April, it was appropriate that Paul and Julie proudly thanked more than 80 of their customers for their support during the past 30 years. They hosted a Sydney Harbour cruise, on a vessel with a name that truly reflects the spirit and achievements of Paul and Julie Maher and Prospect Electrical Wholesalers; "Aussie Legend."