An interview with Hunts Marine Wollongong’s Ash Ward
During the near-70 years that Hunts Marine have been providing top-quality watercraft to the people of New South Wales, a cornerstone of our business philosophy has always been that of exemplary customer service. We know that friendly, knowledgeable staff, who always go the extra mile to meet each and every one of the customer's needs, will ensure that they leave our premises smiling with a vessel that will give them years of enjoyment on the ocean waves.
Ash is a member of the award-winning Hunts Marine Wollongong team. One of our employees who really encapsulates this way of thinking is Ash Ward, our Spare Parts / Service Coordinator at our award-winning Wollongong branch. She took a few minutes out of her busy schedule to talk to us about her day-to-day at Hunts Marine Wollongong, her favourite vessel and how boats came to be part of her life.
Hi Ash! Could you let us know a little bit about your day-to-day role at Hunts Marine?
"Of course! I look after the retail side of our Wollongong store, which involves monitoring spare parts, chandlery, service and sales. You could call me something of an all rounder! No two days at Hunts Marine are ever the same - you never can tell what might happen, or what could come through the doors. That's all part of the challenge though, and what makes Hunts Marine such an enjoyable place to work."
Tell us a little bit more about your career working with boats. How did you end up working for Hunts Marine?
"I was working for a marine store further south and the chance came up to work for Hunts Marine. I just considered this to be an amazing opportunity, as Hunts Marine are the leaders in the marine industry. Making the move here was a decision that I have never looked back on," says Ash.
"Making the move here was a decision that I have never looked back on."
It's plain to see, then, that Hunts Marine's reputation as a world class boat dealer has long been known to the people of New South Wales and beyond. With our ability to attract the finest talent in Australia, we're able to provide an unrivalled level of customer service, and the expertise and know-how of our staff continues to be the benchmark by which others are measured.
What do you think it is that keeps bringing customers back to Hunts Marine?
"I think the main reason our customers come back to Hunts Marine is everyone that works here genuinely wants to be in the marine industry and all share a common goal. We are here to help and, though it sounds simple, I think a lot of our competitors lose this in the day-to-day running of their operations. Additionally, our friendly staff and great variety of stock certainly go a long way to attracting customers back.
Ashleigh likes to get out on the water herself! You're a keen boater yourself. What's your current vessel?
"I'm a keen skier, so my pride and joy is an inboard Skicraft, and we get on the water every weekend during summer."
It's hard to argue with Ash on her choice of craft there. Since their establishment in 1969, Skicraft have been creating award-winning wakeboarding and ski boats. Over that time, the company have experimented with and produced all manner of outstanding craft, and it's this experience that has seen them produce some of the finest performance boats on the markets, at a price that cannot be be beaten for the quality on offer.
I think seeing the enjoyment of not only my family but all of our customers get from boating, whether it be rides on the tube or the thrill of catching their first fish, is something I'll never get tired of."
Finally, how did you first get into boating and the ocean life?
"Every weekend of my childhood was spent at our caravan at Sussex Inlet. Each Friday afternoon, we would drive down from school, and as a family tradition, there would be a concrete kangaroo on a property. Every weekend it was dressed in a different outfit, and me and my sister would try and guess what it would be and the winner got first ski!," reminisces Ash.
"I learnt to ski from a very young age, and to this day, me and my dad have a blast on the water! It's a tradition I'm passing onto my nieces and nephews, and although we don't have the caravan anymore, I take them down to the Shoalhaven river and let them enjoy the childhood I had. They love it, and I think seeing the enjoyment of not only my family but all of our customers get from boating, whether it be rides on the tube or the thrill of catching their first fish, is something I'll never get tired of."
You can experience Hunts Marine's exemplary customer service first hand by getting in touch with us, or even pay us a visit in one of our three establishments - at Sydney, Batemans Bay, or Wollongong, where you might catch Ash hard at work!
