Woodman's boss does tell-all about closing hardware store

WOODMAN'S Mitre 10 in West Mackay survived its share of tough times since opening in 1976, but the last straw was Mackay missing out on Adani's HQ.

The aisles of Woodman's Mitre 10 in West Mackay, co-owned by Kerry Woodman, are a lot quieter after the store's recent closure to the public. Picture: Luke Mortimer

WOODMAN'S Mitre 10 in West Mackay survived its share of tough times since opening in 1976, from economic downturns to a national player moving into town.

The last straw for co-owner Kerry Woodman?

When Adani named Townville as its headquarters for the Adani project, side-lining the city he grew up in.

The Nebo Rd store, not part of a string of acquisitions made by Mackay family hardware chain Porters in April, shut up shop to the public on May 31.

A staff party was held on June 2, to celebrate years of mateship between long-standing staff members.

Some workers had been employed at the store or other parts of the business for up to three decades.

The store will remain a head office for the 59-year-old's other trade supply businesses, while Woodman's Mitre 10 stores in Sarina, Marian, Proserpine and Cannonvale will be rebranded as Porters Mitre 10.

"Leading up to it the work that had to be done was unbelievable," Mr Woodman said.

"We had to stocktake every store, do thorough checking. So this is my fifth week straight, no breaks at all. In the end I didn't have too much time to reflect on everything."

Mr Woodman, a married dad of three who has been slogging it out in the store for four decades, described the closure as "sad" and "disappointing", but ultimately inevitable.

Still, he's optimistic he can grow a string of other businesses in the store's absence.

That includes Bristol Decorator Centre, Mackay Timber and Truss, Mackay Glass & Aluminium, Woodman's Roofing Centre, Mackay Brick Sales and a Trailers 2000 business.

Woodmans Mitre 10 in Mackay closed to the public on May 31. Picture: Luke Mortimer

Unfortunately, after moves to transfer staff to the stores now owned by Porters, or to Mr Woodman's other businesses, six staff lost jobs.

Mr Woodman, who runs Woodman's Mitre 10 with his father Garnet and brother David Woodman, said since Bunnings opened in Paget in 2014, it's been difficult to compete.

He estimates his profits were cut by up to 40% as the huge chain with the monstrous advertising budget made its mark.

"It (Bunnings) didn't create any new business, it just cut the pie up a bit smaller," Mr Woodman said.

Woodman's lodged an appeal in the Planning and Environment Court against Mackay Regional Council's approval of the Paget Bunnings in 2013, but that was evidently unsuccessful.

Meanwhile, the latest economic trough pushed morale even lower, leaving an excess of homes and fewer to build.

"The biggest disappointment for me, the straw that broke the camel's back though, was when Mackay didn't get the employment centre for Adani," Mr Woodman said.

"Townsville's not a mining town, it's a public service town. It's full of army and public servants. Rockhampton is a rural based town. They're not mining towns.

"When Queensland Nickel goes down and 500 jobs are lost, it's a national disaster. We lose 8000 jobs here in Mackay and it doesn't even raise a blip."

Mr Woodman said he will do all he can to help former customers and new tradespeople find what they need during the transition.

The Woodman family first got into hardware in 1956, joining Mitre 10 in the early 1970s.

Originally published as Woodman's boss does tell-all about closing hardware store