New Zealand's # 1 Outdoor Web Site

The definitive online New Zealand outdoor information site!

New Zealand - AN OUTDOOR PARADISE

Photos by Ron Laughlin
click on photos for a closer look

Here is a special introduction to the Twin Needle Outdoor Equipment Company:

Introduction

TwinNeedle will be the only outdoor equipment repairer in New Zealand set up to handle large volumes of repairs. We will provide repair services to end-users, retailers, wholesale distributors and New Zealand manufacturers. The repair service will principally cover outdoor equipment such as backpacks, tents, sleeping bags, clothing and MSR cookers.

Retailers, distributors and manufacturers are required morally and by law to provide some form of after sales service. At present there is no coordinated repair service for the outdoor market. Retailers, distributors and manufacturers previously used Macpac Product Support for Macpac specific repairs. For all other brands of outdoor equipment they have had to use either small local repairers, (i.e. shoe repairers or dressmakers), or have a basic facility for limited in-house repair. When faced with warranty repair issues, many currently choose the more expensive option of replacement as no cost effective repair service is available.

By providing a professional service for repairs, parts and equipment maintenance, TwinNeedle is offering retailers, distributors, and manufacturers a cost effective alternative to replacement.

TwinNeedle also recognises the needs of high volume end users such as Outward Bound, Franz Josef Glacier Guides, Outdoor Pursuits Centre, etc, who require bulk repairs and servicing in a short or limited timeframe due to the nature of their business. Where small local repairers or basic in-house repair facilities struggle to manage, TwinNeedle will be set up to handle these volumes and timeframes.

Everyday end users realise the benefits of using the services of a qualified repair agent to support their purchased product, especially those purchasing outdoor equipment.

Objectives

The key objectives of TwinNeedle include:

1. Become a key resource to retailers, distributors and manufacturers for outdoor textile based equipment and clothing repairs.

2. Become a trusted repairer of outdoor equipment and clothing by end-users

3. Provide a fun and enjoyable work place for those employed by TwinNeedle

Operations

TwinNeedle Outdoor Equipment Repairs Limited is a privately held Limited Liability Company owned by Steve Haase, Matt Hobbs and Trina McLeod.

TwinNeedle will be based at 14 Birmingham Drive until at least the end of March 2008. During this time a more permanent location will be sought.

All repairs that come to TwinNeedle will be entered into a repairs database which will record customer and product details, repair action and warranty status. Each repair will be uniquely tagged and proceed for repair where time taken and parts used will be record. This information will then be used to generate an invoice before the product is dispatched.

Directors

Trina McLeod

Trina has over 17 years machinist experience, the last 7 spent as the senior technician and trainer for the Macpac Product Support Team. Trina is a grade 5+ machinist, Gore-Tex seam sealed trained and qualified and is an expert repairer of a wide range of outdoor equipment, including packs, tents, sleeping bags, and clothing. She is trained and qualified to use all the machines required for repairs and service.

Trina’s extensive experience allows her to work confidently with customers to design and construct one-off products, meeting or exceeding expectations.

Steve Haase

Steve has a strong organisational and logistical background. He was a team leader for 5 years at Cadogan Tate, a major high-end removal company in the UK. On return to New Zealand in 1997 Steve ran the warehouse and logistics for a baby food factory, before moving to Macpac in 2001 as the finished goods warehouse team leader. In 2002 he moved into Macpac Product Support Team and was responsible for the day to day running of the repair team. His duties included customer relations, receipt and assessment of product for repair, quoting and warranty negotiations with customers. As part of the role in product support, Steve was also involved in design feedback, product testing, QA checking and reporting.

Steve is also trained in the service and repair of MSR branded cookers.

Matt Hobbs

Matt was born in Birmingham in the West Midlands. He has an extensive sales background and for the past 8 years has worked for a variety of local, multi-national and government based companies in the UK. From 2001 to 2004 Matt completed a Bachelor degree in Adventure Tourism Management within the UK. He furthered his passion for the outdoors working at the UK’s premium outdoor retailer Snow and Rock. He held a supervisor’s position within the mountaineering department, requiring extensive knowledge in specialist outdoor technical clothing and hardware.

Having fallen in love with New Zealand whilst holidaying in 2002, he immigrated 18 months ago, managing a Ski/Snowboard/Surf shop within Christchurch before joining Steve at Macpac Product Support. Matt was the first point of contact for technical product support enquiries. His role included, coordinating all off-shore repair agents with warranty and non-warranty assessments, providing repair advice, supplying parts and materials as required, reporting to management of off-shore manufacturing warranty issues and product support statistical evaluations. Matt was also involved with customer relations, receipt and assessment of product for repair, quoting and warranty negotiations with customers.