When you’ve been in business for over 80 years, you learn a thing or two about the importance of strong partnerships.
For Dean Brownie, third-generation owner of Brownie’s Mattress Direct, the relationship with Finance Now exemplifies what a true business partnership should look like.
Founded in September 1939 by Dean’s grandfather Frank Brownie, who started making bed wires for the Air Force and Army during World War II, Brownie’s has grown from humble beginnings in Christchurch to become a nationwide operation with seven branches across New Zealand.
Under Dean’s leadership since 1994, the company has maintained its commitment to local manufacturing while expanding its reach, now employing around 100 staff including 30 in manufacturing.
The connection with Finance Now was built on relationships that went back many years before the company’s founding. Dean had known Wayne Evans, Phil Ellison, and Don Bowden through years of working in the industry.
When Evans and Ellison launched Finance Now in 2000, the decision to partner with them was natural. “It’s very comforting to customers that Finance Now is owned by SBS,” Brownie explains. “That really gives Finance Now some very serious credibility.”
What sets Finance Now apart, according to Brownie, is their customer-focused lending approach. “Finance Now is very flexible on their terms and they tailor things to suit people’s individual financial requirements.”
The personal relationship with Don Bowden, whom Brownie has known since the 1980s, remains crucial. “If we’ve got a problem, we just call Don. He’s great.”
The partnership has weathered various economic cycles, including the Global Financial Crisis, COVID-19 pandemic, and current cost-of-living challenges. Through it all, the relationship has remained strong.
With Brownie’s now in its 87th year and Finance Now having recently celebrated 25 years, the partnership stands as a testament to the power of relationships in business – demonstrating how trust, understanding, and shared values can create lasting success.
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