Marketing After A Pandemic
April 23, 2021
Introducing Two New products
April 27, 2021
NEWS / EVENTS
CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF HONE
Our Hone Tutua is one of the original team members of KingSt – only Judy Coulter has been here longer. He even pre-dates Chris!
Hone and Judy were part of the team when Chris bought Russ Rimmington’s shares in 1999.
From an early age, Hone says he was taken with art and design. When his high school ran a design class, he thought it would be an interesting option to take in his final year and found it was something he really enjoyed.
After a gap year, he headed to Waikato Polytech (now Wintec), where he spent the next four years completing his degree. His first design job (after a bit of travel post-university) was at Rimmingtons and, as they say, the rest is history.
We asked Hone some quick-fire questions about his time with KingSt.
What do you enjoy the most about the job and why?
The company has always allowed for continual learning and to be challenged in different ways. Back in the day, when it was a small company, we had two designers and a senior, so because of the size, you had to be a jack-of-all-trades.
We also had many partners (e.g film/plate developers, printers etc), who became good friends and I learnt a lot off. What I enjoyed most in the job is the people and the challenges.
What's been your favourite project to work on and why?
The most memorable was our first big win! In 1999, just before Christmas, we pitched for the Chiefs account. Both Chris and I are rugby nuts, so we did the pitch – not sure how it went and hoping for the best. They said they had a few more interviews to do and would get back to us.
I think we had our Christmas do at the end of that week, which Chris decided to be a low-key, casual event at the old office. We had invited the guys from Waikato Rugby Union. They rocked on up in their Chiefs wagon, and walked up to Chris to do the usual meet and greet.
I was busy at the chilly bin getting drinks when looked up to see Chris had a stunned expression on his face and the Chiefs guys were laughing at him. We had just won the account! They had known, but wanted to surprise us at the party.
Later that night, Chris ordered a taxi to go to the Novotel to pick up cigars to celebrate. That was a good night... clean up was messy!
What do you enjoy about KingSt?
He tangata, he tangata, he tangata. Whether I’m working in Hams or now in Tauranga, this has not changed. It is the people who make the difference!