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It has been a big week for Jack Fuller.
Not only has he officially opened the 100th Pirtek franchise in Australia, he has automatically become a member of Networkcafe.com.au as a result.
Pirtek were a founding member of the Speedcafe.com Platinum Partnership group in 2009 and all 100 franchises, including Fuller’s in Albany, Western Australia, benefit from Networkcafe.com.au membership.
Networkcafe.com.au was established in an effort to create a network for small to medium-sized businesses associated with the motorsport or automotive industries that could be negatively affected as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pirtek is the world’s leading supplier of premium fluid transfer solutions and Fuller’s business is the 12th Pirtek franchise to open in WA – more than 35 years after the opening of the state’s first outlet in the Perth suburb of Welshpool.
Pirtek supply hoses and fittings for any application where fluid or gas needs to be moved from one place to another.
It supplies product lines to virtually every sector including medical, hospitality, automotive, manufacturing, transport, marine, forestry, power, defence, engineering, oil, gas and mining.
Fuller, just 29, was born in Albany, raised in Geraldton and returned “home” to attend St Joseph’s College before starting a mechanical apprenticeship.
In recent years he established Great Southern Equipment in Albany, specialising in the sales, service, and repair of forklifts, vehicle hoists, and other equipment, which will be a tremendous complementary business to the Pirtek franchise.
Fuller has long-term plans for his Pirtek franchise with thoughts of his children Jesse, 8, and Grace, 7, becoming possible second-generation franchisees down the track.
“It is great to be a part of the Pirtek franchise group and we are really looking forward to quickly growing our customer base in Albany and the greater southern region of WA,” said Fuller.
“We identified that many businesses in the region were looking for an alternative supplier for their hose and hydraulic equipment and servicing so we decided to fill the gap in the market and early feedback has been very encouraging.
“Pirtek is obviously a leader in the field and it made sense to explore the possibilities of establishing a franchise in Albany.
“There are so many terrific stories of Pirtek franchises being handed to the next generation and while that is some time off for our children, it would be great to think that we can build our business so we have that option in a few years time.”
Pirtek was established by Peter Duncan AM in Sydney in 1980 and remains a family-owned operation having expanded to 24 countries with more than 430 Service and Supply Centres and 1750 mobile service units servicing more than 200,000 customers with more than 13,000 product lines.
While the Albany business is Pirtek’s 100th national Australian franchise, there are already four more scheduled to open around Australia in coming months.
The growth is testament to Pirtek’s evolving global footprint and their commitment to developing a supply and service network second to none.
Ironically, Pirtek USA, which was bought back by the parent company in 2015 and is now run by Glenn Duncan, the son of Pirtek founder Peter, is set to open its 100th franchise next month with the launch of Pirtek Racine in Wisconsin.
Pirtek have built their brand nationally and internationally through a range of successful sporting sponsorships ranging from local baseball in the early 80s to naming rights sponsorship of the Parramatta Eels NRL team and the New Zealand national rugby league team.
The company has also had a long association with motorsport, winning the Bathurst 1000 in 1998 and several Supercars championships.
This weekend Anton De Pasquale will run the #100 on his Dick Johnson Racing Mustang in the opening round of the 2021 Supercars championship at Bathurst to help celebrate the opening of the 100th franchise.
Pirtek and the Duncan family have also become involved in many philanthropic endeavors through the years.
While much of this activity is done in stealth, one of their public programs is the annual Pirtek Fishing Challenge which raises more than $100,000 each year for a range of charities, including The Peter Duncan Neurosciences Research Unit at St Vincent’s Hospital.
“We have been proud to open every one of our locations since our first at Rydalmere in Western Sydney in 1980, but hitting the 100 mark is a significant milestone in the company’s 41-year history,” said Pirtek chief operating officer Mark Devitt.
“The continued growth of PIRTEK’s footprint globally is a testament to the Pirtek brand’s strength and resilience, especially during the last 12 months with health and travel restrictions because of COVID.
“We have also been a proud Platinum Partner at Speedcafe.com for the last 12 years and enjoy the fact that all our franchisees are a part of Networkcafe.com.au.”
Speedcafe.com founder and owner, Brett “Crusher” Murray said he was delighted to have Pirtek Albany as part of Networkcafe.com.au.
“Pirtek has been an incredible partner of ours since day one and we enjoy the fact that every one of their franchisees are a part of Networkcafe.com.au,” said Murray.
“Networkcafe.com.au was set up during the COVID period to support small to medium-sized businesses and it has developed into a valuable business network.
“We wish Jack (Fuller) and his family all the best with his new Pirtek franchise.”
