Latest news with #Burrowes
NZ Herald
14-05-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
The Hire A Hubby hero turning handyman stereotypes on their head
Ditching his corporate suit for a toolbelt, Craig Burrowes built a million-dollar empire fixing leaky taps, rebuilding bathrooms, roofing mansions and hanging high-end artwork with the precision of a surgeon. He's the Auckland-based Hire A Hubby franchisee who's taken the handyman game and given it a proper glow-up. From a one-man in a van operation in 2011 to owning the largest Hire A Hubby territory in New Zealand, Burrowes' story is one of grit, growth, and a knack for turning 'can't be done' into 'no worries, mate'. With smarts gained from the corporate world and the knack he's always had for solving problems, Burrowes has made Hire A Hubby a roaring success, while becoming the guy you'd want on speed dial for any home or commercial fix-up. The journey started when he had had enough of the corporate grind. 'I was restless, frustrated, and ready for a new challenge,' Burrowes says. After years in senior management, he and his wife Sandy researched their options and bought into Hire A Hubby. Why a franchise? 'I didn't want to go into it only to remain a 'Joe's Handyman', stuck trimming trees and fixing fences,' Burrowes chuckles. The brand's systems, processes and support meant Burrowes could 'focus on getting the work, and then getting it done' rather than admin, he says. While it began as a one-man, one-van setup, Burrowes always intended to grow, aiming to offer a premium service tackling minor repairs right up to major renovations. In less than a decade he'd snapped up the Hire a Hubby franchise in multiple territories across Auckland's Mt Eden, Westmere, Grey Lynn and North Shore. Today, he's got a team of six on the tools, a network of trusted subcontractors, and a commercial space in Hobsonville for staging big jobs and running operations. In terms of turnover, Burrowes had built a multimillion-dollar business by 2022. As for the secret sauce behind his success, he reckons it's a combination of smarts, hard work, and a key proposition: 'The customer has a problem; if you say 'no', the customer still has a problem, they've wasted their time calling, and they probably won't call next time.' Burrowes says his team handles laying concrete, rebuilding conservatories, even sorting out pesky leaks that other tradies can't crack. Small things, sometimes. Big things, others: a recent highlight was a $350,000 re-roofing job on a 1920s prestige home in Grey Lynn, a project that kicked off FY24 with a bang. Burrowes also boosted his quote-to-invoice rate from 84% in 2021 to 92% in 2023, and 79% of his business comes from repeat customers. Many have moved on from asking for quotes to simply getting Burrowes' Hire a Hubby crew in, knowing the quality and pricing are on point. His team has earned strong customer feedback, with Natalie Gonthier from Village Rentals noting: 'Craig and his team are great – always on time, clean up, and handle everything from small jobs to massive ones.' Frank Rangi from Metro NZ Property Management labelled Burrowes' problem-solving skills 'one in a million'. Then there's Bruce Sanderson, who raved about Burrowes' work on a spiral staircase and conservatory rebuild: 'I don't need to look for anyone else.' These reviews help explain the trophy case: Burrowes' team bagged seven awards, including the Big Business Award, at Hire A Hubby's recent Nelson conference. In an effort to give back to the brand, Burrowes routinely 'rides along' with prospective new franchisees, assessing their suitability for the business. 'After all, the reputation of all of Hire a Hubby rests with every franchisee,' he points out, describing his involvement as 'enlightened self-interest' which contributes value to the franchise. Asked if he has any advice for former tradies, those looking to carve their own path, or indeed fellow refugees looking to escape daily grinds and office politics, he says it doesn't have to be complicated. 'Follow the system, because it works,' he says. 'The jobs are out there; don't panic if it's slow at first. Be professional, communicate, and solve problems.' Burrowes adds that there is room for specialisation within the model: if cabinets and kitchens are your thing, go for it. Landscaping, decking and retaining walls? Great. Plumbing and electrical? Have at it. 'One of my specialities is hanging fine art,' he says, 'But across my team, we've developed a wide range of capabilities.' He says Hire A Hubby is about trust, value, and a willing attitude to understand challenges, and deliver the solutions. 'I often quip that we look after happy ladies and relieved husbands, because we take care of jobs that sometimes cause domestic friction,' he says with a smile. Hire A Hubby franchise opportunities are available now.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Diddy Sued By Bad Boy Co-Founder Kirk Burrowes For Sexual Harassment And More
One Bad Boy co-founder is going 'bad' on the other. Kirk Burrowes recently sued Diddy for sexual harassment and a slew of other accusations. People recently reported that Burrowes' legal team filed an 18-page complaint against the controversial mogul on Friday (Feb. 28), citing a 'deeply disturbing' and 'toxic environment of coercion, fear and psychological manipulation.' In addition to sexual harassment, they claimed there were instances of physical aggression and coercion, unwanted sexual advances, and inappropriate behavior during business meetings. Burrowes claims that the 'I Need A Girl' artist used blackmail, violence, and extortion to force him to give up his 25% stake in their legendary label. This lawsuit comes 22 years after Burrowes first sued Diddy, claiming that he violently influenced him to give up $25 million by storming into their offices with a baseball bat and forcing him to sign a contract that effectively withdrew his ownership of Bad Boy. The lawsuit was dismissed because it fell outside of the statute of limitations. Kirk Burrowes' lawsuit against Diddy comes days after he sued his mother, Janice Combs, for fraud. He claimed that she 'knowingly participated in the fraudulent scheme' to gain possession of his 25% stake in Bad Boy, which he gave up after he was extorted by the Making The Band star. Burrowes' lawsuit, per Rolling Stone, reveals that he only recently learned about these alleged deeper, darker methods of getting him to give up his power. 'This latest lawsuit filed by Kirk Burrowes, filed by none other than Tyrone Blackburn, is another frivolous attempt to re-litigate claims that have been repeatedly thrown out of court over the past 30 years,' Puff's legal team told HipHopDX. 'Despite repeated dismissals, Burrowes and Blackburn are intent on wasting the court's time and resources by refiling dismissed claims and now dragging Mr. Combs' 80 year old mother into this.' Burrowes is looking to get his ownership stake back, plus compensation, and to have the company audited. Meanwhile, Diddy remains behind bars after being arrested in September for racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. His trial is set to begin in May. More from Sara Rivers From Diddy's 'Making The Band 2' Sues Mogul For Sexual Harassment Diddy Faces Four New Lawsuits Through Gender-Motivated Violence Act Diddy's Mom Sued For Allegedly Seizing Bad Boy Ent. From Co-Founder Kirk Burrowes
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Diddy's Mom Sued For Allegedly Seizing Bad Boy Ent. From Co-Founder Kirk Burrowes
Sean 'Diddy Combs is facing yet another legal woe as his former business partner, Kirk Burrowes, has filed a lawsuit alleging he used intimidation and violence to seize control of Bad Boy Entertainment, which he co-founded. The explosive court documents were obtained by DailyMail and accuses Diddy of brandishing a baseball bat in 1996 to intimidate Burrowes into signing over his 25 percent stake in the label to Janice Smalls-Combs, his mother. According to the legal filings, the alleged harassment occurred in May 1996 in Burrowes' New York City office. The lawsuit states that Combs, accompanied by Bad Boy Entertainment attorney Kenneth Meiselas, stormed in with a baseball bat and pressured Burrowes to relinquish his shares. 'By words and actions, Sean Combs and Kenneth Meiselas frightened and intimidated and assaulted plaintiff (Burrowes) and forced him to turn over his share certificate for 25 shares of Bad Boy Entertainment to Sean Combs,' the lawsuit states. The filing further alleges that Burrowes, overwhelmed with fear, had 'tears streaming down his face' and was 'clearly unable to resist under the circumstances.' Smalls-Combs, who wasn't present at the time of the incident, allegedly claimed ignorance of the encounter when Burrowes sought her advice. However, he claims she was complicit, directing the entire scheme behind the scenes. Although Smalls-Combs wasn't there for him at the time, he alleged that he provided personal counsel to her many times during alleged instances of physical abuse at the hands of her son. He claims to have witnessed Diddy 'aggressively overpowering' his mother and using 'derogatory slurs' against her. The 62-year-old asserts that Smalls-Combs, 84, played part of an orchestrated effort to take over control of the company, and since then, it has left him homeless in New York City with extreme financial hardship. At one point Burrowes also served as President of the company, as well as chief operating officer and general manager. The lawsuit details an alleged campaign to erase Burrowes from the music industry, with claims that Smalls Combs engaged in 'a decades-long scheme of intimidation, violence, fraudulent misrepresentation and financial concealment' to maintain control. The complaint also accuses the defendants of systematically sabotaging Burrowes' career, by blacklisting him from the industry, denying him business opportunities and destroying his reputation. Burrowes, who played a key role in securing one of Mary J. Blige's biggest hits, 'Family Affair,' through West Coast producer Dr. Dre, claims that despite his efforts, Diddy worked to undermine his career. He says that from 1992 to 1997, his salary increased from a modest $30,000 to $125,000—far below what he was promised given Bad Boy's success. He also alleges that Diddy and his mom repeatedly failed to honor financial commitments, including a 2019 promise at Diana Ross's birthday celebration to 'make things right.' Burrowes asserts that he invested $100,000 into Bad Boy Entertainment at its inception and is now seeking restitution for lost profits, reinstatement of his ownership stake, and a forensic audit of the label's finances. Despite providing historical records and even materials for a documentary on Bad Boy Entertainment in 2021, Burrowes says he was once again deceived and left unpaid for his contributions. The lawsuit alleges that Diddy and his mother continued to profit from his hard work while he languished in financial ruin. Burrowes' attorney, Tyrone Blackburn, stated to DM, 'We are confident that the legal process will hold those responsible accountable and ensure that justice prevails.' Burrowes also issued a direct message to Diddy's mom. 'Janice Smalls, we started this out as a family unit, and I believed in Sean's talent,' he stated. 'I had a talent too, and I delivered… I looked out for your family, and you let them, as well as yourself, destroy mine. See you in court.' This latest lawsuit comes as Diddy remains incarcerated at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center while awaiting trial on a slew of charges, including racketeering, sex trafficking, and transportation for prostitution. The 'Gotta Move On' rapper has been repeatedly denied bail since his September 2024 arrest. More from Diddy's Lawyers Claim Tony Buzbee Improperly Filed 22 Lawsuits Against Him A$AP Rocky's Lawyer Explains Why He Turned Down Representing Diddy In Court Ye Questions If Cassie "Extorted" Diddy, Social Media Reacts
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Diddy's Mother Sued For Allegedly Seizing Bad Boy Label From Co-Founder, Leaving Him Homeless
Sean "Diddy" Combs' mother, Janice Smalls, has been sued by a former right-hand man of the embattled rapper, Kirk Burrowes. Burrowes claims Diddy seized control of his stake in Bad Boy Record label, leaving him homeless. Sean "Diddy" Combs has been in jail after being arrested in September following charges of sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution. Diddy's mom, Janice Smalls, has been dragged into a new lawsuit involving her son and his former right-hand man, Burrowes. According to the Daily Mail, Burrowes filed a lawsuit in which he alleged that the "Finna Get Loose" rapper used a baseball bat to force him into signing over his shares of the company and then gave his mom. The alleged altercation happened in 1996 when Diddy entered his office with Bad Boy Entertainment attorney Kenneth Meiselas. Burrowes claims he was then forced to give up his 25 percent stake in the company. The ousted music executive who served as the company's Chief operating officer and general manager says he's homeless and has had to endure "prolonged periods of living in shelters across New York City" due to the "immense" financial hardship as a result. He's now suing Smalls, the label's majority stakeholder and who he alleges "engaged in a decades-long scheme of intimidation, violence, fraudulent misrepresentation, and financial concealment." "By words and actions, Sean Combs and Kenneth Meiselas frightened and intimidated and assaulted plaintiff (Burrowes) and forced him to turn over his share certificate for 25 shares of Bad Boy Entertainment to Sean Combs," court documents read. "Plaintiff, fearing for his life, with tears streaming down his face, clearly unable to resist under the circumstances, involuntarily signed the documents," Burrowes claimed. Elsewhere in the lawsuit, Burrowes claims that Smalls wasn't in the office the day of the alleged assault, which seemed quite odd to him. He noted that he later contacted her "seeking guidance," but she "pretended she was unaware" of what Diddy and Meiselas had allegedly done. Although she wasn't physically present, he claims that Diddy and Meiselas "were acting under [her] direction to orchestrate the fraudulent involuntary transfer." The lawsuit claims that the "Defendants not only defrauded [Burrowes] of his rightful stake in BBE but also systematically sabotaged his career." "They blacklisted him from the music industry, blocked business opportunities, and destroyed his professional reputation, ensuring he would remain financially destitute and unable to reclaim what was rightfully his," the document read. According to the news outlet, Burrowes claims he has been owed millions of dollars in lost profit as he invested $100,000 when Bad Boy Entertainment first launched. He's seeking damages for financial losses, reinstatement of his 25 percent ownership stake, his 15 percent annual share including interest, and a forensic audit of Bad Boy Entertainment's earnings and profits from its inception to the present. Burrowes' claims come amid Diddy's mounting lawsuits as he awaits trial for sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution. The "Bad Boy For Life" rapper is currently held at the notorious Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn and has been denied bail several times. In his lawsuit, Burrowes pointed out that he shares a close tie with Diddy as he's the godfather of the rapper's first child, Justin Combs, and that he attended his christening at a church in Harlem, "underscoring the deep bond and reliance between the families." He claimed that when Diddy was fired in 1992 by Uptown Records founder Andre Harrell, he helped him rise above the depressive state during which the rapper was allegedly plagued by suicidal thoughts. Diddy has previously attributed the success of the company to Burrowes, telling Billboard in 1997, "Kirk is the one responsible for Bad Boy's success and making it the professional, young, black-run company that it has become." Also in court documents, Burrowes claimed he warmed up to Smalls at some point and became her trusted confidant, adding that she opened up to him and sought his protection when Diddy allegedly abused her. Burrowes says he allegedly witnessed Diddy's "volatile and abusive behavior," including an incident where he physically assaulted Smalls. Burrowes added that he watched Diddy "aggressively overpowering" his mom and calling her "derogatory slurs." "She then, in my eyes, was a mother doing her best, and she wanted to calm him down," he said of Smalls. "I was caught off guard by the mother title and the sweet mother persona that she gave, and the strength of her trying to help a son who's in a very difficult situation." "And at that time, I was 1,000% into helping Sean and making sure that he'd get over this. Today, I have a different view of it," he added.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Kern County officials decline behavioral services grant due to new proposition
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Kern Behavioral Health and Recovery Services earned a $2 million grant to open up a Children's Crisis Residential Program and on Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors declined that grant. Workers like Daisy Graven, a Substance Use Disorder Specialist, are asking why. 'I don't know why they would decline a state grant, because it's services that are very well needed,' said Graven. Graven joined her local SEIU 521 colleagues on North Chester Avenue Thursday afternoon to protest what they say – the county's unwillingness to spend money. 'The past three years, the board of supervisors underspent public services by $532 million,' said Josh Armstrong, an SEIU member. 'That's why roads go unrepaired, wait times for mental health services drag on and families in crisis don't get the help they need fast enough.' At the rally, SEIU wanted to get the word out about FixKernNow, a movement to get voters to put pressure on their supervisor for more staffing, better infrastructure and more. Graven said that this grant was important, to help children with mental health issues. 'The younger that we're able to get people that have mental health issues, the less adults suffering that we have out on the streets,' said Graven. The Children Crisis Residential Program was going to be used to house anyone under 18-years-old after inpatient psychiatric care. Children leaving the mental hospital could stay there for a short amount of time, to help them get reacclimated before sending them home. It could have also housed someone during a crisis, instead of going to a mental hospital. This still begs the question: Why would the county ever decline grant money? Alison Burrowes, the director of BHRS, wrote a letter to the county asking to decline the grant. Burrowes explained the grant was for costs getting the program up and running, but Behavioral Health had to pay to operate it. 'He's loved': Bakersfield family shares how Safe Surrender program strengthened their family Under Proposition one, a law that passed in 2024 to reallocate behavioral health funds across the state, takes treatment funding and puts it into housing. 'So what we were providing through this funding for treatment services, now we need to shift some of those dollars, 30 percent of them, over into housing rental subsidies,' said Burrowes. Burrowes also highlighted that BHRS was awarded a different $17 million grant for other youth programs which allowed the department to pivot. 'It's going to be used to construct a youth crisis stabilization unit, so for youth going into crisis this is a safe place for them to go, receive some short term treatment and evaluation in case they do need to be hospitalized,' said Burrowes. 'Alongside that facility is going to be a family resource center.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
