06 October 2010

Advantage SA member and Adelaide shade structure builder W.A. Young has recently announced the renaming of its business, to Weathersafe Shades. A successful South Australian manufacturing business since the early 1950’s, W.A. Young has a long history of evolutionary change in response to the climatic and economic environment of the times.

Opened by Bill Young in the shadows of WWII, the business originally manufactured canvas products such as tents, swags, and rugs. It soon expanded into shade cloth products, supplying much needed shade to the nursery and garden industry, as well as to backyard plant and vegetable enthusiasts across South Australia.

In 1978, the business was acquired by David Seymour-Smith, and was set on a rapid path of expansion. It purchased a small steel fabrication company, initially to build the steel frames required for their range of shade houses, that by the late 1990’s had evolved to become a leading supplier of metal furniture products through retail outlets Australia wide.

Tim Seymour-Smith took over the business from his father in 2004, and, facing significant import competition, chose to cease manufacturing furniture and focus entirely on the provision of premium shade products. Since then, the company has increased its shade turnover by 300%, and is forecasting significant growth over the next few years with expansion into new markets.

“Taking the W.A. Young brand into other markets was always going to be a very difficult thing to do” says Tim. “The original business did not operate in a retail environment, and was less brand reliant, however now our domestic client base is strong and growing rapidly. So as difficult as changing the name of a 60 year old family business has been, we saw it as a vital move prior to establishing our brand interstate and ultimately overseas.”

“We feel Weathersafe Shades is a brand that strongly identifies the range of solutions we offer, to clients as diverse as home owners, architects, building companies, landscapers, and private and public schools.”

“Weathersafe Shades firmly remains a proudly South Australian business manufacturing at our factory in Melrose Park.  Consumers can be guaranteed of quality products and services that also help support the local economy, thus keeping jobs in this State”.