You don’t stay in business for over 30 years unless you’re doing something right. Family-owned Botica Group, West Auckland’s leading suppliers of plywood and timber solutions, undoubtedly has the right formula.
We caught up with Managing Director Matthew Botica to find out more about this uniquely West Auckland success story.
Botica Group was founded in 1994 by Matthew’s father, Croatian immigrant, Ivan Botica. A fresh-faced 20-year-old Ivan left his homeland in 1966 and headed to New Zealand in search of a better life. A qualified cabinetmaker, Ivan first found work at Fletcher Building.
Matthew says his father developed his leadership skills and knowledge over several decades. His career spanned roles in many high-profile companies, including JSC and Carter Holt Harvey.
However, a restructure at Carter Holt Harvey in 1993 saw Ivan being made redundant. This gave him the push he needed to move in a different direction and start his own business. Botica Timber Services Ltd was born, with just Ivan, his wife Marsha and a planer machine.
Sadly, Ivan died in 2011 and his wife, Marsha, in 2021. However, their legacy lives on as son Matthew explains: ‘Dad’s motto was always, ‘It’s the quality that matters and the service which counts.’” This principle continues to guide the group’s operations to this day.
From its modest start, the company has continued to grow from strength to strength. The Botica Group has called The Concourse in Henderson home since 2002.
It now employs 24 staff members across three sites, including the recently opened new premises at 65 The Concourse.
Over the years, the company has acquired several others that come under the Botica umbrella, including Plyman, Timberman, Botica & Co Pressing Services, Ultima, Deck King, and The Great Kiwi Firewood Company.
Botica Group Today
Matthew says that one of the great strengths of the Botica brand is the specialist knowledge of the dedicated staff. There’s not much these guys don’t know about timber! And they enjoy sharing their expertise with customers, ranging from crafters to DIY enthusiasts and professional builders.
Like most other businesses, the current economic climate has been challenging for Botica. ‘We’ve had to pull back in this market, take stock and be more mindful of our spending,’ Matthew advises.
He adds that Botica has invested a lot of energy in diversifying the group’s offerings. ‘For example, in the digital space, we’re trying out AI and different ways of marketing that we haven’t done traditionally to keep up with changing times,’ Matthew reports.
The group has even launched its own YouTube channel. Matthew says that much of the timber information available online is aimed at the US market, with very little specific to Kiwis. Botica Group is filling a gap with helpful and informative videos relevant to New Zealanders.
Botica Group’s customers have been coming back for decades now, so there’s no doubt that Matthew knows what he’s talking about.
More on the story in Part 2 next issue
Botica Group, 67 The Concourse, Henderson.
W: boticagroup.co.nz