Build your financial security with OBT Financial Group – Lockyer Valley’s Business of the Year 2015 and specialist financial advisers to individuals, business owners and farming families on accounting, tax, business advice and wealth planning for over 30 years.David and Barbara Leek started life together like many parents seeking a great place to bring up their young family. But engineer David also had to make sure he could earn a living.
Back before the convenience of the internet, he and Barbara went searching for a business to buy. When they found one in Gatton, that sealed the deal and they moved from Sydney to the Lockyer Valley.
That was in 1973.
Come forward some 40 years and David and Barbara have bought, sold and bought back that engineering business.
Today, as the owners of Kidz Equipment, they run a unique steel fabrication business, catering to the needs of the childcare and education industry.
Tucked away in Mt Sylvia, few know of their endeavours and the success of the business.
Enriching children through play
Kidz Equipment is one of the country’s main manufacturers of childcare centre-friendly play equipment, with a distribution network covering Australia and New Zealand.
“We started in 1999 with just myself and Barbara,” says David. “We were asked to make some playground equipment for one person, which then accelerated to a couple of childcare centres.”
Today, making up to as many as 70 different playground components, their business has the Australian Standards seal of approval and a streamlined supply chain. As a result, they only need to do limited advertising.
OBT Financial Group makes sure David and Barbara’s business ticks all the regulatory and compliances boxes.
“We were using another accounting firm in Brisbane,” says David. “We have known Brett Garmeister all his life, but it was when he graduated and started at OBT that we changed accountants. That must have been 20 years ago or more.”
Over the years the business has gotten steadily bigger
David and Barbara now have a full time staff of three plus part-time packers. With OBT’s support they have been able to handle the extra business and sustain growth.
“We’re fortunate being a niche business, manufacturing heavy duty play equipment, to have a distinctive position in the market,” says David. “And whilst Barbara manages all of our bookkeeping, we turn to OBT for our BAS and tax planning.”
“Brett and Rodney are good people to know. OBT is always on the front foot – we thoroughly enjoyed their recent seminar with the Commonwealth Bank – it was very positive and informative.”
In today’s world of high technology and as family people, David and Barbara Leek believe more and more the need for physical fun and exercise. Their product selection is second to none, standing out for its unique gross motor skills designs and providing fun with physicality. To read more about the exciting work Kidz Equipment is doing, please visit http://www.kidsequipment.com.au/.
