HTA Advisory has a broad spectrum of clients across many industries. Often, it’s only the business advisor who gets to hear about the exciting things our clients are doing. Our Client Conversation offers an opportunity for us to present our clients to our readership in a way that shares their passion for what they do.
This month we introduce you to PJT Green Plumbing
Hello Paul, thanks for taking the time to meet with us today. PJT Green Plumbing is in the business of environmentally-friendly plumbing and solar solutions for households and businesses throughout Victoria. Tell me, how did you get into plumbing, and what prompted you to start your own business?
Thanks for this opportunity guys. I have never really known why I wanted to do this but from an early age, around year 9 in high school, I found I wanted to be a plumber and own my own business. It’s been a great journey!
What are the range of products and services you deliver? What is it that makes your services “green”?
We do the full range from supply and install of tanks, like steel & poly rainwater tanks, large in ground and underground tanks, to solar hot or gas water systems, and water saving devices.
We also provide such services as connecting rainwater tanks to irrigation, watering the garden, flushing the toilet and laundry use. We also install storm water & grey water systems.
What makes us “green” is our vision for taking each step with environmental conscientious decisions. From all the tools we use on the job to the products we install, we want to ensure it’s not just a great solution for you but a long-term solution for the environment!
As a small business owner, I know you’ve worked hard to build your business. What were some of the challenges you faced, and how did you turn it all around?
We’ve had a few challenges. Right up there would be finding the right plumbers to do our particular type of work. It takes a lot of time and training to get them to where they need to be. I’m grateful that we are at the stage where we have this.
I also found that simply getting your name out there can take some time, through correct advertising and word of mouth we have managed to turn this around. Another big one, I think for all companies, is how challenging getting your cash flow right. It can be a challenge to receive payments on time but with Xero & SimPro we’re right on target.
And you like scuba diving, I hear?! Is this what prompted you to start the Clean Up Our Watercause? How did that come about?
You’re right, I’m an avid diver and so after witnessing firsthand the impact rubbish and pests have on our environment, I wanted to raise awareness to local communities on how they can contribute to looking after our water.
With funding from PJT Green Plumbing and PJT Sizzle I was able to create a volunteer organisation like Clean Up Our Water to take direct action with the removal of waste and pests along our coastlines, waterways, rivers and creeks to protect our native marine and freshwater ecosystem.
A few weekends ago you worked with the local community to clean up the area around Brighton Pier. You were able to remove over 1000 Northern Pacific Seastars and around 2 cubic meters of rubbish. That’s a massive achievement, congratulations! It’s easy to understand why rubbish is a problem with our waterways, but many wouldn’t know why starfish are bad too. Can you explain?
The Northern Pacific Sea Star is not native to our local bays; it was accidentally introduced to our waters back in the 1990′s and since then has proven to be an invasive species in Australia. The Northern Pacific Seastar can breed very quickly in our waters due to lack of natural predators as well as the perfect climate for laying eggs. They feed on our native marine life as well as eat the native environment and over time destroy our marine ecosystem.
Have you got another volunteer day lined up or is it getting a bit too cold now? What can people do in the mean time to learn more about the cause or volunteer?
Our next volunteer day will be at Merri Creek, although, we haven’t decided upon a date yet. In the mean time people can head to our Events page to find a quick recap of our last volunteer day and to find out what they can expect on our next CUOW Water Volunteer day.
A percentage of funds generated from PJT Green Plumbing goes straight back into Clean Up Our Water so just doing business with us is good for the environment! This support will allow us to have regular volunteer days throughout the year and to keep extending our cause.
Be sure to tell your friends and family and ask them to sign up to become a member and receive our welcome pack!
For more information click these links: PJT Green Plumbing; Clean Up Our Water.
