Strength to Strength For E2E Auto

If you’ve driven down Berrimah Road, Darwin this year, you may have noticed MTA member Engine 2 Exhaust Automotive’s new signage just off Stuart Highway.

Owner Gorden Bull describes the 50m fence banner as something visible from the moon.

“The building is set off the street, and it’s got a big fence around it,” Gorden explained.

“We thought that if we put signage on the building, it’s not going to be overly visible, whereas if we do it on the fence, it’s right there on the street.

“If you miss it, you’re really not paying attention while you’re driving!”

Three years ago, Engine 2 Exhaust Automotive was established as a small business run from a shed on Miles Road.

Instantly growing in popularity, Gorden was able to start employing staff and took on an extra shed across the road to accommodate the influx of customers.

However, it seems that he underestimated the rate that his business’s popularity would explode, as during November last year, Engine 2 Exhaust Automotive shifted premises to meet growing demands for the second time.

“We just got too big to be doing that. I couldn’t be in both places at once, even though we had a mechanic and an apprentice,” he explained.

“We just needed to have somewhere we could have everything under the one roof.”

The new workshop currently houses four hoists and a dyno, and has enough space to accommodate an additional two hoists should the need arise.

Taking advantage of the rapid growth, Gorden has recently finished converting a space in the new premises into a showroom.

“We can sell bits and pieces to the general public, more so the performance side of stuff, whether it be cam kits, fuel system upgrades, or any of that sort of thing,” he said.

“It’s just to diversify a little bit, so we have stock on-hand, so people aren’t always waiting for parts to come from down south.”

Currently, Engine 2 Exhaust Automotive offers a near-allencompassing array of services.

“We pretty much do everything as far as automotive is concerned, other than paint and panel,” said Gorden.

Three years ago, Engine 2 Exhaust Automotive was established as a small business run from a shed on Miles Road.

Engine 2 Exhaust Automotive owner Gorden Bull with wife Tammy Bull.

“If somebody wants a set of spotlights fitted, or there’s a diagnostic issue, or an electrical issue, they’re not trapesing all around town to get stuff done. It’s sort of like a one-stop shop.

“I’m qualified in light vehicle and auto electrical, and we’ve got two light vehicle apprentices and another qualified mechanic as well.”

When asked what his experience shifting premises was like, Gorden simply stated that it was long, arduous and tedious.

“We’ve got quite a lot of fleet servicing, so we couldn’t really say ‘well no, we’re not going to be able to do that for a month while we move,” he said.

Gorden, with the help of his staff and some friends, shifted the contents of one shed to the new premises, while keeping the other operational.

Once the new premises was well-enough equipped to be able to accommodate customers, he closed the second shed and began shifting the remaining equipment.

“We were continuously running. We didn’t want to turn people away,” Gorden said.

Opening three new premises in three years, Gorden has a wealth of knowledge to impart on other MTA members looking to shift location in the future.

“We had to get an electrician in to rewire all the hoists; we had to paint and reseal all the floors in the workshop, along with a few other bits and pieces before we could start operating – there was quite a bit that went on behind the scenes,” he recalled.

“Have a game plan. Have everything set out so you know what you’re doing.

“Have a timeframe so you can prepare yourself appropriately, and then get stuck into it.”