Easy Access Celebrates 20 Years

This year marks our 20th year in business. We thank you for being a part of our journey and for helping us keep Kiwi tradies safe up there since 1999. 

Founded by Jeff Wearmouth and his brother Shane in the small Northland town of Maungaturoto, the company has evolved to become the supplier of New Zealand’s widest range of ladders, platforms, scaffolds and roof edge protection for use on construction sites.

Jeff and Shane share the story of when the created their first product in their father’s workshop at the back of their Dad’s farm, and released it to market:  The SuperTresle was designed to provide safe and easy access for lower level work, and to fold flat for easy storage and transportation - ideal for painters and similar trades.  

When the first batch was ready, Jeff put two SuperTrestles in to the back of his Falcon ED station wagon, and drove to Auckland to sell them to a painter.  With some trepidation and no training or experience, Jeff’s only motivation was that he had to sell these trestles. Jeff clearly did a good job of demonstrating the product as the painter bought the trestles. 

Easy Access has evolved from a small business developed in a farm shed to a substantial manufacturing business, growing from zero to 35 million dollars in annual sales. Easy Access has become a significant supplier of height access equipment for New Zealand Trades, and is now also exporting to destinations as far afield as the UK and the US, where Shane is now based.

Majority of Easy Access’s product development has come from user demand after keeping in touch with their customer base and listening to what tradesmen need. In addition to quality, compliance to relevant standards and regulations is top priority for Easy Access. “At the end of the day, they are platforms that people stand on, off the ground, so there is an element of risk there, therefore, they must be top-notch:  Says Jeff.

Easy Access has come a long way since Jeff and Shane first started in their Dad’s shed. Overall it has been a successful business but it’s safe to say they have hardly started.