20 Years in the Tractor Parts Business…
ProPart Ricambi Ltd is proud to announce our 20th anniversary! It’s been an incredible journey, and we’re grateful to our customers for your continued support.
To mark this milestone, our team have quizzed our founders, Sarah and Dean, to hear about their ProPart journey.
SARAH & DEAN, OWNERS
If you could go back and tell yourself something when you started your business, what would it be?
“That the first few years were going to be hard, and you often felt you were battling on your own! I don’t think we realised how demanding on our time it would be. It’s something you’re tied to; you can’t just pick it up and put it down whenever you want.
“We didn’t foresee that taking time off wasn’t a thing, and that we’d have to be at work even when we were sick!”
Casey, Sarah & Dean
ProPart operates from sunny Hawke’s Bay
What’s your favourite part about serving the rural mechanical industry?
“The rural mechanical industry plays an important role in supporting the primary industry, which is a major contributor to our country’s export economy. Knowing we can help our growers and farmers through supporting the mechanical trade is a real driver of satisfaction for me.” – Dean
Do you have any advice for others planning to start up a business in Ag?
“Service and price are equally important to our Ag customers. So my advice would be make sure you are equipped to be the best at those two factors before you start. That will set you up for success.”
How much has the evolvement of technology helped ProPart grow?
“A huge amount. When we first started all parts coming in and going out were recorded manually on stock cards.
“Fast forward to now and we’ve just launched a massive website and have been employing all sorts of different operational tech behind the scenes.
“Technology has been hugely beneficial in making us more efficient, allowing us to keep our sell prices down for our customers as we’ve strived to keep our overheads low.”
ProPart invested in a major
website upgrade in 2024
The ProPart team all band together
Can you share a memorable lesson you’ve learned along this journey?
“We’ve found a flat HR structure works well. Treat all your employees as comrades and you’ll have a great team that all pull together for your customers. Always be kind and respectful.”
What was it like starting up a business with a young family?
“It was difficult, both for us and for the kids. But I think for the kids to grow up seeing their parents working hard and taking responsibility would teach them good principles.”
If there was one thing you’d like customers to know about ProPart, what would it be?
“That we are a happy, friendly, family and staff oriented business, and always strive to do better.
“We have a poster on the wall in our warehouse “Is there a better way?”, and that sums us up really – we’re always looking for a better way of doing things so there’s always lots of change for the good around here!”
CASEY, ELDEST SON
We also talked to Casey the Procurement Manager at ProPart (also Dean and Sarah’s son) to get his perspective on being raised in a full-on family business!
Here’s what he had to say…
Procurement Manager Casey learning the ropes
When you were a kid, did it feel like slave labour? 😉
“Ha! I’m sure we got paid so it can’t quite be called slave labour 😄. It was more like pocket money to buy lollies from the dairy…”
What is your favourite part about serving the rural mechanical industry?
“I’d say the best part is hearing from such a wide range of people across the country, along with the stories about how the tractors come to be damaged.
“One recently got hit by a truck on the road, another slid sideways down a hill and ruptured its fuel tank on a stump… all sorts!”
ProPart’s first ever warehouse
One of our customers photos they had sent in years ago
ProPart started out specialising in SAME’s
Start ’em young they say!😆
HOW TIME FLIES!
Looking back on our journey, we’re amazed by how far we’ve come.
– Dean, Sarah & the crew
ProPart Ricambi
Trusted by tractors. Parts made easy.