Signature Homes Franchise Support Office

About Us

Company Profile

One of New Zealand's most experienced residential housing companies, Signature Homes began in the late 1970s under the ownership of this country's largest industrial company, Fletcher Challenge. In those days Signature Homes' business was based on the manufacturing of a high quality solid timber building system which quickly gained market share through a network of Builder Dealers, enjoying production volumes in excess of 100 units annually throughout the 1980's.

In 1983, the Signature Homes network was enhanced by the addition of Lasque Construction, an Auckland-based building company which was founded in 1979 and since 1990, has been jointly owned and operated by Gavin Hunt. Lasque quickly built up its market share, becoming the largest customer of Signature Homes' manufacturing operation.

Following the worldwide downturn in the property and equity markets in the late 1980s and a shift in the market for solid timber homes in New Zealand, Signature Homes went through a period of restructuring. On the basis that the skills and experience of Lasque Construction would add value to Signature Homes' business as a whole, Gavin Hunt and his partner in Lasque established a joint venture company, Signature Building Systems Ltd, owned equally with Fletcher Challenge. Signature Building Systems acquired the brand, production facilities and rights of Signature Homes in 1994.

Under the new management, the company flourished again. Sales volumes increased as the Signature Homes network of Builder Dealers was re-established, production facilities were rationalised and the product mix shifted from solid timber to 'traditional' construction – with a focus on 'design and build' projects.

In 1995, Signature Homes' Domestic Marketing Manager, Martin Beadle, acquired an equity share of Signature Building Systems, and Fletcher Challenge sold their interest in the business to their former joint venture partners.

Martin Beadle and Gavin Hunt later acquired 100% ownership in Signature Building Systems and began to develop both a stronger Builder Dealer network and an export marketing division to complement the domestic business. Signature Homes' hotels, homes and commercial buildings can now be seen in Japan, Korea, China, Australia, the Maldive Islands, French Polynesia and Hawaii as well as New Zealand.

In 2000, as part of the business's growth strategy, the domestic and export operations were split to allow each to independently achieve its full potential. The export marketing division became Signature Building Systems International Ltd, while the domestic business reverted to the original company name of Signature Homes Ltd and reconfirmed its commitment to its growing Builder Dealer network by developing a full-format business franchise system.

This strategy has been particularly successful and with the resultant focus on the domestic network, in November 2002 Signature Homes was awarded the prestigious Business Leadership Award by the Franchise Association of New Zealand, an organization representing over 14,000 businesses employing in excess of 70,000 people and achieving annual sales of over $10 billion. Signature Homes was also a finalist in the Franchise System of the Year Award and, through its Christchurch franchise, the Franchisee of the Year Award.

Further confirmation as to the growing status and respect Signature has achieved in recent years is evidenced by its appointment by the Ministry of Education as the preferred builder of Early Childhood Education Centres throughout New Zealand. Over 70 building companies tendered for the appointment, which was awarded after an exhaustive assessment of all aspects of a building business including ability to supply and perform, facilities, infrastructure, management support, track record, technical support, national coverage and, of course, price.

Signature Homes is also the preferred builder of the National Heart Foundation Lottery Homes in New Zealand. Each year four homes are built in resort locations throughout the country on sites identified by Signature, fully furnished and landscaped, and then offered for sale by lottery. This is a full design and build, turnkey programme.

In March 2004, Gavin Hunt and his wife Anneta took over full ownership of the business from previous joint owners Martin and Cindy Beadle. After a nine year partnership, the couple left the company to pursue travel. In the same year, Signature Homes Ltd achieved sales in excess of $65,000,000.00 through its builder network, and in the current year, will sell around $100 million of homes in New Zealand.

Signature Homes has set its sights on being New Zealand's premier branded home design and building group, a vision developed in conjunction with its Builder Dealers – now known as Franchise Partners in recognition of the relationship of interdependence and mutual benefit that exists within the Signature Homes franchise.

Director Profile

Gavin Hunt , the Managing Director of the company, completed his training as a quantity surveyor and draftsman and began his career with nationwide building company Beazley Homes in 1979. When the company established an export division, Gavin was appointed its Export Estimator, and when it was purchased by giant Fletcher Challenge corporation, he spent five years as Project Estimator, gaining invaluable experience on offshore building projects in the Middle East, United States, Australia and the Pacific Islands. He also provided support for the international activities of Fletcher Construction (Overseas Division).

On his return to New Zealand, Gavin joined Fletcher Residential, New Zealand's largest home builder, and became Divisional Manager for Signature Homes and then Manager Waikato Region for Fletcher Residential. In 1990, he acquired an equity share of Lasque Construction Ltd, the largest Signature Homes builder nationally, and managed that company for 9 years, until he was appointed Managing Director of Signature Homes Ltd. He also remains a Director of Lasque Construction Ltd.

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