Tell us about your business?
We are a third-generation, New Zealand owned business that has been shaping the flooring industry in Aotearoa since 1962. The Jacobsen Flooring Group isn’t just a family business, but a family of businesses, including Jacobsen, one of New Zealand’s largest flooring suppliers, and Tredsafe, which specialises in flooring safety products such as stair nosings, transitions, and our proprietary stair nosing insert.
Founded by our grandfather, Wesley Jacobsen, over 60 years ago. Built by our father, Guy Jacobsen, into the leading flooring businesses we know today, and now we are proud to be leading these businesses into the future. Renee is the Chief Executive Officer of the Jacobsen Flooring Group and Lars the Executive Director of Tredsafe.
Our companies are built on strong family values, outstanding service and deep technical expertise. We are committed to delivering high-quality, innovative flooring solutions while fostering long-term relationships with our partners, suppliers and customers.
People and Planet are at the core of our values. We have a nationwide team of over 60 experts all focused on inspiring better spaces for life - by providing fit-for purpose, world-class flooring solutions with a commitment to people’s wellbeing and our footprint on the environment around us.
It is also worth noting that we own the business Propspeed within our broader Jacobsen Holdings Group. Propspeed is the marine industry leader in foul-release coatings. Both Propspeed and Tredsafe focus on domestic and export markets whilst Jacobsen only operates within New Zealand.
What has been your greatest success?
Our greatest success to date has been our ability to grow a thriving business that continues to evolve and adapt to the market while staying ahead of industry demands and customer needs.
We have built deep technical expertise, making us a trusted partner for large-scale, complex projects in Zealand such as; hospitals and care facilities, civic spaces, education environments, workplaces and national retail chains. Being part of bringing these spaces to life, for kiwis to live their lives in, is very rewarding.
Continuing to have long standing supply relationships with businesses such as Woolworths and City Fitness, where our product knowledge and service reliability are critical, is something we are very proud of.
For Tredsafe, our biggest successes have been in the growth of our overseas markets, particularly in Europe, and more recently in the US, and being part of iconic projects in these overseas markets.
Both Jacobsen and Tredsafe are focused on balancing our family values, wisdom and experience with innovation and continuous improvement to stay relevant for our customers tomorrow.
What do you value about FBA?
We know there is real value from sharing experiences and learning from others, so we primarily joined FBA to be part of this network of family businesses and have opportunities to be inspired and learn from others. We also thought it would be a great experience to do together and have exposure to ideas that we can discuss together and share insights that relate to our businesses. Family businesses do have their own unique strengths and challenges and it’s rewarding to be surrounded by others who operate within that family business context.
What advice would you give to other family businesses?
Family businesses are so deeply personal and there are many dynamics to navigate, and to harness for the good of the business and families.
I think external formal or informal input is invaluable and needs to be inclusive across the family involved in the business. Transparency and communication is critical to bring the family on the journey and provide input into decision making. Discuss potential challenges and how they will be navigated before they arise, so there is a framework to fall back upon if needed. Involvement in decisions and open communication will go a long way avoiding risk to either family or business dynamics.
Create boundaries between business and family time, at least some of the time.
Whilst working with family can be challenging at times, it’s a great privilege to witness our loved ones in this context, and share this business journey with them.
Support family business.
