• Machinery and tooling displayed in the one new retail space.
    Machinery and tooling displayed in the one new retail space.
  • Coffee and conversation – from left, Maddie Bidgood, National Retail Manager; Simon Lowe CEO and Linda Nathan, Wood Review editor.
    Coffee and conversation – from left, Maddie Bidgood, National Retail Manager; Simon Lowe CEO and Linda Nathan, Wood Review editor.
  • Ashley Pump, Trade Area Manager, SCM Group Australia was on hand to discuss SCM’s Classic range, available through Carbatec.
    Ashley Pump, Trade Area Manager, SCM Group Australia was on hand to discuss SCM’s Classic range, available through Carbatec.
  • Giles and Andrew Herbert from Whittle Waxes will this year celebrate 20 years as a family business.
    Giles and Andrew Herbert from Whittle Waxes will this year celebrate 20 years as a family business.
  • Isabel Atienza from En Mina Leather with Tony Forbes, Product Manager, Carbatec.
    Isabel Atienza from En Mina Leather with Tony Forbes, Product Manager, Carbatec.
  • Wood slabs take centre stage in the new showroom.
    Wood slabs take centre stage in the new showroom.
  • Mark Thomas, Sydney Carbatec Business Development Manager, stands with an example of the i2R CNC range which is proving popular with makers and in particular schools.
    Mark Thomas, Sydney Carbatec Business Development Manager, stands with an example of the i2R CNC range which is proving popular with makers and in particular schools.
  • A place to try tools out: Carol Black from Burning Bird Pyrography gives visitors an opportunity to experiment.
    A place to try tools out: Carol Black from Burning Bird Pyrography gives visitors an opportunity to experiment.
  • The new and expanded Carbatec Tingalpa warehouse is adjacent and accessible from the new store.
    The new and expanded Carbatec Tingalpa warehouse is adjacent and accessible from the new store.
  • Get the feel of new hand tool options on 'try before you buy' benches.
    Get the feel of new hand tool options on 'try before you buy' benches.
  • Alan Short gave rolling presentations which introduced techniques of woodturning.
    Alan Short gave rolling presentations which introduced techniques of woodturning.
  • The new space is larger with integrated displays of hand tools, machinery, accessories, books and timber.
    The new space is larger with integrated displays of hand tools, machinery, accessories, books and timber.
  • Outside the new Brisbane Carbatec premises; underground parking and an integrated display area with adjacent warehousing.
    Outside the new Brisbane Carbatec premises; underground parking and an integrated display area with adjacent warehousing.
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Launch event: Carbatec's new flagship store reveals a creative retail environment

21 October 2024
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The official opening of Carbatec’s new flagship store was celebrated last weekend with an event that a crowd of customers happily took advantage of. With a first glimpse of the new store layout came demonstrations of woodturning, finishing, pyrography and leatherwork. Free coffee and gift merchandise with on-the-spot sales made visitors welcome.

Located literally around the corner from the previous store, the good news starts even before entering – underground parking is always a bonus in Brisbane’s generally warm climate. Double doors and a lift then take you up to Carbatec’s new retail experience.

With its sales and service staff counter located centrally, the new space is an expansive 360° hub for machinery, tool and timber display with ample room for demonstrations. Customers can also now get hands-on as well with the innovation of a workbench set-up which allows buyers to try hand tools prior to use.

carol-from-burning-bird.jpg

A place to try tools out: Carol Black from Burning Bird Pyrography gives visitors an opportunity to experiment.

Leading off the retail hub is a large creative space, the future home of in-store masterclasses, and interestingly, a space for staff to make in as well. Carbatec’s new and expanded warehouse is also directly accessed, as are its internal offices and an in-house development and prototyping workshop.

Planning the new space began two years ago with the search for a suitable location and premises. Nine months of layout design, installation and fit-out preceded the final move-in of stock and set-up.

try-before-you-buy-benches.jpg

In the foreground: an in-store workbench pemits customers to try hand tools out.

‘It’s been a 37 year journey’, explained company CEO Simon Lowe. ‘About every 10 to 12 years we outgrow where we’re at and need more space. From a warehousing and headquarters point of view we were out of space. Here we’ve got more parking for customers and an air-conditioned showroom.’

The lead-up has very much been a whole-team hands-on effort explained Maddie Bidgood, cabinetmaker and Carbatec National Retail Manager. Staff were involved in the design and also build of some of the fixtures. ‘There’s close to a ton of solid spotted gum in the front counter’, said Maddie. The long lengths are about 180kg each – we used a forklift to move them, and cut all the joints and assembled it here.’

‘With the new layout, we want to offer a new experience, one that’s based on customer feedback over the years’, Maddie said. ‘Bench areas where you can try before you buy are an example of that. We’re also trialling QR codes on some products so customers can quickly dial up product information. Today is also about getting feedback so we can continue to refine things. We’ve put our blood, sweat and tears into this project and to see it with the customers here today feels really good!’

As mentioned, Carbatec’s creative space is also for staff to use for personal workshop time. ‘Our mission is to inspire, educate and support woodworkers’, explains Carbatec CEO Simon Lowe. ‘We try to attract woodworkers to be part of our team as part of a desire to be authentic. My dad (Geoff Lowe) started this business because he wanted to play with tools, and really that’s what I want to do too! (The creative space) is a means to an end for us. We want to spend time in the workshop. Our customers and staff want to spend time in the workshop. And we can trial things and test new products.’

Altogether the new premises will permit more efficient operation and brand expansion as well as future growth. Simon Lowe sums it up: ‘Finding great products, curating them and bringing them to market, that’s what we do.’

Word and photos: Linda Nathan, Wood Review editor

The new Brisbane store is located at 364 New Cleveland Rd, Tingalpa, Qld  4173.
Learn more about Carbatec at www.carbatec.com.au

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