In this episode of the Arete Podcast, Richard Triggs talks with Rob Fulton-Kennedy, Managing Director of Northside Cleaning and Packaging Supplies (NCPS), about what really happens after you buy an established business.
In March 2024, Rob and his father bought NCPS, a Morayfield business that has been trading since 1994 and now stocks more than 5,000 products for customers from Bundaberg to Byron Bay. The retiring owners had built it from a one-man band and wanted it to go to a family who would keep its DNA alive. Rob’s brother joined six months later. Before that, Rob spent six years in the property team behind Snap Fitness, opening around 100 clubs across Australia and New Zealand.
Rob thought he was buying a business that would look after itself. What he actually took on was 30 years of habits, systems and culture, and a team that leaned on the owners for every decision. He explains why the first 12 months were about putting out fires, meeting every customer and supplier, and leaving the bigger changes for later.
From there the conversation gets practical. Rob describes how the team went from checking every order four times to twice, and started tracking mistakes instead. He talks about building a leadership group, giving people permission to make the grey decisions, and why every change needs a clear answer to “what’s in it for me?”. Two and a half years on, the business has not lost a single person to the change.
Richard and Rob also talk about working with family. Rob’s father and brother are both in the business, which raises the question of who is really the boss. Rob shares the ground rules that keep work talk away from the dinner table and family Christmas.
Rob also explains how he thinks about stock, cash flow and the real cost of product sitting on the shelf, and where he wants to take NCPS over the next five years.
A conversation for anyone thinking about buying a business, joining the family firm, or leading a long-serving team through change without losing them.
TIME STAMPS:
01:10 Rob’s role at NCPS and what the business does
05:09 From opening Snap Fitness clubs to buying a cleaning supplies business
11:32 What he thought he was buying, and what he actually got
14:04 The first 12 months: fixing what was broken and meeting every customer and supplier
18:40 Keeping every staff member and building a leadership team
25:34 Working with family and agreeing who is the boss
32:20 Inventory, cash flow and the real cost of holding stock
38:19 The five-year plan and earning the next order
WATCH THE FULL VIDEO PODCAST ON OUR YOUTUBE
USEFUL LINKS:
- Northside Cleaning and Packaging Supplies (NCPS)
- Rob Fulton-Kennedy on LinkedIn
- Richard Triggs on LinkedIn
- Arete Executive
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