In this feature, we turn the spotlight onto some of the key companies within our industry. In this edition, we look at product and equipment supplier Globe Pest Solutions.
Forming part of the Amgrow Australia group of companies, Globe Pest Solutions sits alongside Amgrow’s other business units: Amgrow Home Garden, Barmac, Globe Growing Solutions and Nuturf.
Beginnings and expansion
Globe Australia was founded by engineer John Peaty in 1972, starting out as a supplier of products to the professional turf industry before expanding to offer pest management products in the late 1970s. By the 1980s, Globe Australia had established a national presence as a distributor of pest management products, with branches opening in NSW and the Gold Coast. Additional investment saw the company further its expansion with branches now open across NSW and Queensland, and also in Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide.
In 2012, Globe Australia was acquired by international biotech company CK Life Sciences Int’l., (holdings) Inc. Subsequent rebranding and restructuring saw the formation of Globe Pest Solutions, which has become a sales and distribution business focused solely on the pest management industry.
Company philosophy
Experience is everything; each of Globe’s nine branch managers has a pest control background, or has worked as a pest control technician.
“From Perth to Townsville, our branch managers are very experienced, with excellent product knowledge,” explained Kevin Parsons, Globe Pest Solutions Operations Manager. “We give our branch managers the freedom to stock the products they know work in their area. For example, products available at our Gold Coast branch will differ from those available in our two Sydney branches.”
Globe’s management lineup has changed little over the past decade, and its staff retention might be in part down to its investment in people.
“We believe a positive and empowering company culture is critical to the success of any business, and there is no better example of this in the Amgrow group than the culture that has developed at Globe Pest Solutions,” said Paul Barber, Amgrow CEO. “Furthermore, our recently revised strategic plan has included a major focus on fostering this positive culture to ensure our team are empowered to get the job done, and hopefully have a bit of fun along the way.”
Shaping the industry
Yes, Globe sells products to pest managers. But behind this is a desire to work collaboratively with suppliers and pest managers to help shape the professional pest management industry. “We want to add value to the industry, to help it grow and ultimately become more professional,” explained Mr Parsons.
This philosophy underpins the company’s investment in training, as Globe branch managers act as experts in their field to the pest managers they do business with. All Globe branches feature dedicated training rooms, where staff undergo regular training programs that have been developed together with partner organisations, such as Rapid Solutions and MPL.
“As a market leader in our field we have a responsibility not only to ensure we deliver high quality products to the Australian market, but also to actively work with other key stakeholders to develop the industry in every facet, from product and service innovation to training and accreditation,” said Mr Barber. “We don’t take this lightly, and to ensure it remains a key area of focus within the business we have incorporated this into our new mission statement,” he added.
Distribution in the digital era
In the first quarter of 2018, Globe will be unveiling its new-look website. Pest managers will be able to browse products online in a simpler and easier fashion that is better suited to accessing vital product information while on the move. The new website will also form a strong foundation for future digital initiatives that are in Globe’s pipeline.
In the meantime, pest managers can expect to see more sophisticated POS systems being introduced in store throughout 2018, while behind the scenes, Globe will be investing in its own internal systems to ensure the customer purchase experience is as efficient as possible.
Looking to the future
Globe has seen impressive growth over the last decade, but has been judicious in keeping key business operations in house, including HR, supply chain management and marketing. The plan is to continue building on these solid business foundations.
“We’re looking to expand our footprint from both a geographical and market perspective,” said Mr Parsons, “making Globe more accessible to our customers so they can buy the products they need in a way that’s most convenient for them.
“It’s these activities that we hope will allow Globe to continue to grow with and add value to the Australian professional pest management industry.”
