Cole Dallimore: Meet the Napier teenager running four businesses
His business journey started when he was aged 16 and attending Napier Boys' High School.
He spoke to his father about starting some kind of business.
'I finished school one day, and I wasn't a big fan of school, and he threw out the idea of water blasting and house washing.'
He didn't have a licence, so his mum drove him to jobs he lined up after school and on weekends, cleaning houses with a brush.
Cole Dallimore at the yard he has started leasing for his businesses. Photo / Gary Hamilton-Irvine
The money he earned went into advertising his business on Facebook, and he bought a hand-held water blaster.
'We were going about six or seven months and it started to pick up momentum so I got my mate to give me a hand.'
His father invested in the business and he bought better gear – a new trailer water blaster and then a van.
Not long after Cyclone Gabrielle hit in February 2023, Dallimore 'took a punt and dropped out of school' early in Year 12.
'I just didn't like school, I don't know why ... I liked making money I suppose.'
The move paid off, and he soon picked up a big contract for waterblasting at a Hawke's Bay winery, which led to more work.
His father helped him buy another company in September 2023, Merson Contractors, which specialises in roof painting and maintenance.
The companies have complemented each other nicely.
In 2024, he rebranded his water blasting company to HydroGo, which is now in Hawke's Bay and Taupō.
Later that year, he opened up Merson Builders with a qualified builder as an employee, because 'we wanted to be a one-stop shop for property managers'.
Early this year, they moved into a bigger yard just out of Napier as 'there is a lot of room for expansion'.
Nowadays, much of his vehicle fleet and equipment is on finance, but he said he was very grateful for the early financial support from his father.
'You like the thrill of it,' he said.
'Like yesterday, we were short of work then this morning we had a huge job come through, which will take us three weeks, so you have things like that.'
He said he greatly enjoyed seeing the business grow.
Most recently, that has included the launch of HydroGo Drain Unblock.
He hopes to franchise HydroGo.
His advice for starting a business?
'If you are thinking about doing something, just do it, just start.
'Whether it is starting with a Facebook page [for a business], then you get ideas.
'Luckily for me I had Dad, but if you have someone that is happy to help you out take it while you can, and just work hard at it.
'Persistence is the biggest one. If you are having a s*** week you just have to keep pushing through.
'Yesterday was yesterday and today is today – that's the kind of mindset you have to have.'
He said people don't think he is the owner when they meet him, which was fine by him.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
a day ago
- RNZ News
'Is this available?': How to use online marketplaces and avoid the scams
Experts say there are a few things to keep in mind to mitigate the extra risks of private sales online. Photo: RNZ New Zealanders are buying and selling everything from cabins and wedding bands to nappy cakes and cars on Facebook marketplace, as well as online auction site Trade Me. It was estimated earlier in the year that this country's secondhand market could be worth about $5.5 billion a year. But when it comes to private secondhand sales, there are extra risks to watch out for - and not just the chance you'll get stuck in a never-ending loop of "is this available?" messages on Facebook. Experts say there are a few things to keep in mind to help make the process smoother. When you're selling an item as a private sale, the Fair Trading Act and Consumer Guarantees Act generally aren't a consideration. It is the law of caveat emptor, or buyer beware, that generally applies. You're buying (or selling) items "as seen", which includes any flaws or general wear and tear. Consumer Protection advises that it could be helpful for a buyer to ask the seller to point out damage, to avoid surprises. But if you buy (or sell) something that doesn't live up to your expectations, you can't go back to the seller for a refund. If a seller knowingly makes a misrepresentation about a product, the buyer may be able to cancel the contract or make a claim under the Contract and Commercial Law Act. While you can't go to the seller, you might be able to make your case to the manufacturer if something goes wrong. If an item is not very old and it is still reasonable to expect the original warranties to apply, you could make a claim under the Consumer Guarantees Act. It will help to have the original receipt from the person who sold you the item secondhand. If you're buying or selling something that needs to be posted or couriered, it needs to turn up in a reasonable amount of time, if you haven't agreed on a set time. If it doesn't, the buyer may have a case under the Contract and Commercial Law Act. Under the Electricity Act, electrical appliances must be safe even when sold second-hand by a private seller. It is a good idea to have them checked by a qualified person, if possible. If you know that something might not be safe, you can't sell it. If you think something might be suitable for parts, Consumer NZ advices you could cut the cord and apply a label saying the appliance cannot be used. Sellers may need to take extra precautions to stop themselves being targeted by thieves . Consumer NZ warns that people can create fake profiles to arrange vehicle viewings and find out more details about vehicles that are then stolen. This could apply to any item that you invite people around to your house to see. It advised that people should host viewings for things like cars away from their homes if they could. "Doing this means a potential criminal doesn't know where your car is usually located. Lots of people use false names online, so tell people when you arrange a viewing that you'll be taking a picture of their ID before they can view the car. This will act as a deterrent and could help recover your car if a person who views it subsequently steals it." Its spokesperson, Abby Damen, said she had her car stolen after listing it for sale on Facebook. "Whether or not the selling and the stealing is related is unclear. My experience is I put it on Facebook marketplace to sell it ... I thought if I use Trade Me I get charged more fees. A month later it was stolen. "I included in my listing that it had fresh new tyres. That was a selling point but also a selling point to thieves." She said her insurer asked her when she made a claim whether it had been listed for sale. If you're buying a vehicle , it's particularly important to check there is no security interest registered on it. This means it's been used as security for a loan. This needs to be cleared before you buy the item. Even if you've paid for it, the lender might be able to repossess it from you. If things go wrong, you will probably need to go to the Disputes Tribunal for resolution. But even that won't always give you what you want. In one case, a buyer went to the tribunal over the Trade Me purchase of a campervan for $17,900. The tribunal noted that a friend inspected it with her on Facetime before she bought it, and she had it mechanically checked. But when she went to pick it up, there was a problem with batteries and on the way home the water pump was leaking. She could not get the fridge to work and the one time the gas worked there was "loud explosive bang". The heater was also not working. She wanted $8126 to replace the heater, make the fridge compliant and fix other problems. The tribunal adjudicator explained that there was no remedy available unless the buyer could prove the seller had misrepresented the vehicle. The tribunal found that the condition of the fridge and heater had been misrepresented but said there were no claims made about its compliance with gas regulations. The amount she was awarded for the heater was also depreciated because it was already 13 years old and had an expected life of 20. No platform is completely scam-free. But Trade Me does have the additional option of its buyer protection policy when people use its Ping payment service. This means that people can be refunded up to $2500 if the time is not as described or does not show up. There are fees associated with this but Trade Me's rating function will also show you if someone has a history of selling goods that go wrong. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
a day ago
- RNZ News
'Is this available': How to use online marketplaces and avoid the scams
Experts say there are a few things to keep in mind to mitigate the extra risks of private sales online. Photo: RNZ New Zealanders are buying and selling everything from cabins and wedding bands to nappy cakes and cars on Facebook marketplace, as well as online auction site Trade Me. It was estimated earlier in the year that this country's secondhand market could be worth about $5.5 billion a year. But when it comes to private secondhand sales, there are extra risks to watch out for - and not just the chance you'll get stuck in a never-ending loop of "is this available?" messages on Facebook. Experts say there are a few things to keep in mind to help make the process smoother. When you're selling an item as a private sale, the Fair Trading Act and Consumer Guarantees Act generally aren't a consideration. It is the law of caveat emptor, or buyer beware, that generally applies. You're buying (or selling) items "as seen", which includes any flaws or general wear and tear. Consumer Protection advises that it could be helpful for a buyer to ask the seller to point out damage, to avoid surprises. But if you buy (or sell) something that doesn't live up to your expectations, you can't go back to the seller for a refund. If a seller knowingly makes a misrepresentation about a product, the buyer may be able to cancel the contract or make a claim under the Contract and Commercial Law Act. While you can't go to the seller, you might be able to make your case to the manufacturer if something goes wrong. If an item is not very old and it is still reasonable to expect the original warranties to apply, you could make a claim under the Consumer Guarantees Act. It will help to have the original receipt from the person who sold you the item secondhand. If you're buying or selling something that needs to be posted or couriered, it needs to turn up in a reasonable amount of time, if you haven't agreed on a set time. If it doesn't, the buyer may have a case under the Contract and Commercial Law Act. Under the Electricity Act, electrical appliances must be safe even when sold second-hand by a private seller. It is a good idea to have them checked by a qualified person, if possible. If you know that something might not be safe, you can't sell it. If you think something might be suitable for parts, Consumer NZ advices you could cut the cord and apply a label saying the appliance cannot be used. Sellers may need to take extra precautions to stop themselves being targeted by thieves . Consumer NZ warns that people can create fake profiles to arrange vehicle viewings and find out more details about vehicles that are then stolen. This could apply to any item that you invite people around to your house to see. It advised that people should host viewings for things like cars away from their homes if they could. "Doing this means a potential criminal doesn't know where your car is usually located. Lots of people use false names online, so tell people when you arrange a viewing that you'll be taking a picture of their ID before they can view the car. This will act as a deterrent and could help recover your car if a person who views it subsequently steals it." Its spokesperson, Abby Damen, said she had her car stolen after listing it for sale on Facebook. "Whether or not the selling and the stealing is related is unclear. My experience is I put it on Facebook marketplace to sell it ... I thought if I use Trade Me I get charged more fees. A month later it was stolen. "I included in my listing that it had fresh new tyres. That was a selling point but also a selling point to thieves." She said her insurer asked her when she made a claim whether it had been listed for sale. If you're buying a vehicle , it's particularly important to check there is no security interest registered on it. This means it's been used as security for a loan. This needs to be cleared before you buy the item. Even if you've paid for it, the lender might be able to repossess it from you. If things go wrong, you will probably need to go to the Disputes Tribunal for resolution. But even that won't always give you what you want. In one case, a buyer went to the tribunal over the Trade Me purchase of a campervan for $17,900. The tribunal noted that a friend inspected it with her on Facetime before she bought it, and she had it mechanically checked. But when she went to pick it up, there was a problem with batteries and on the way home the water pump was leaking. She could not get the fridge to work and the one time the gas worked there was "loud explosive bang". The heater was also not working. She wanted $8126 to replace the heater, make the fridge compliant and fix other problems. The tribunal adjudicator explained that there was no remedy available unless the buyer could prove the seller had misrepresented the vehicle. The tribunal found that the condition of the fridge and heater had been misrepresented but said there were no claims made about its compliance with gas regulations. The amount she was awarded for the heater was also depreciated because it was already 13 years old and had an expected life of 20. No platform is completely scam-free. But Trade Me does have the additional option of its buyer protection policy when people use its Ping payment service. This means that people can be refunded up to $2500 if the time is not as described or does not show up. There are fees associated with this but Trade Me's rating function will also show you if someone has a history of selling goods that go wrong. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Amberley brewery 'stoked' to bring home coveted award
The Brew Moon team celebrates at the awards ceremony. Richard Robb (Bintani NZ, left), Oscar McCauley, Joel McSavenay, Dani Wild, Jack MacMillan. PHOTO: SUPPLIED An Amberley-based brewing company has brought home a coveted International Lager trophy from the recent NZ Beer Awards in Christchurch. The winning Czech Please Pilsner is a long-standing favourite in the Brew Moon Brewing Company line-up. It marks the first trophy win for Brew Moon in its 20-plus-year history, despite a strong track record of medal wins. The award also enhances its reputation as one of Aotearoa's leading independent breweries. Brewery manager Oscar McCauley says the team was "stoked" to get this level of recognition from the judges. "These awards are incredibly competitive, with over 600 entries from around Australasia, judged by the best in the business. "It makes it extra sweet to win with one of our classic, go-to beers - and in a category as stacked as International Lager." Dani Wild. Photo: Facebook The award-winning batch was brewed by Head Brewer Dani Wild, who joined Brew Moon just a few months ago. Remarkably, this was only her second Pilsner brew on the Brew Moon system. "Dani is so meticulous and detailed in everything she does," Oscar says. "The amount of data she captures for every brew is mind-blowing. This trophy is a huge credit to her process and her skill." Brew Moon's Dark Side of the Moon Stout also scored a gold medal, and six other beers from the brewery earned Silver and Bronze medals, making for a clean sweep of eight entries, eight medals. "It's awesome to show that level of consistency across the whole range,'' Oscar says. Brew Moon's award-winning beers are available at the Amberley taproom and select stockists nationwide.
