When tradies call us for help, they don’t want someone reading off a script – they want someone who gets it. That’s Ryan. Born and bred in the Sutherland Shire, he’s been around the tools his whole life (just not always using them right – ask him about the staircase incident). Now he’s on the frontline at NextMinute, helping busy tradies get sorted with software that actually works. We had a chat to hear his story, why he rates working with tradies, and how he helps customers get quick wins.
1. Let’s start simple – who are you and what’s your new role at NextMinute?
My name's Ryan, I’m from God’s country in the Sutherland shire. Grew up with all my mates complaining about being a tradie so I got steered into helping them get their businesses up and running onto the software side of things!
2. Where in Australia do you call home, and what do you love most about living there?
Sutherland Shire - love that there is water everywhere you see, followed by bushland. Weekends can be filled with beach days, or hectic hikes.
3. What were you doing before joining NextMinute? Any highlights from your previous gigs?
I used to be an Account Manager for a sports technology software that looked after sports like Athletics Australia, Water Polo, Hockey, Sailing, Pickleball even Quidditch Australia 😀
I really enjoyed working with sports, and seeing all the ins and outs of their operations. Especially some of the smaller quirky sports that you’d never heard of!
4. What attracted you to NextMinute and to working with tradies in particular?
The people. There’s no BS, politics, just straight up chat littered with a good sense of humour. Working with tradies is no different, I love the conversations I have with our customers, at the end of the day you can build relationships so quickly with them because they’re all hard workers, appreciate help when given, and just love a good yarn!
5. When you’re talking to a new customer for the first time, how do you explain what NextMinute actually does for them?
Depends who i’m talking to..
If I’m speaking to a married couple, I’d say NextMinute will save your marriage and get rid of the late night debates. For a solo worker, it’s going to help give back your weekends, nights and give you more trust that things can get done without you always being there.
6. You’re on the support frontline – what can Aussie customers expect when they get you on the other end of the phone or chat?
Hopefully the answer they want to hear, and a quick laugh along the way!
7. Got any early “wins” or moments with customers that have stuck with you so far?
I’ve had some unreal customers jump onboard so far, all different sizes and different challenges. Michael Higgins Constructions came from just putting notes on his car dashboard to chucking absolutely everything into NextMinute, now he’s completely digital and able to see how much he’s actually making at the end of a job which is awesome to see!
Sydney Garden Maintenance & Landscaping is another one, they’re a decent size crew that came from another software. Seeing how quickly they were able to mobilise their team, get them all onto the app, whilst simultaneously smashing out all sessions with me was great!!
They also picked up a bunch of awards at the Landscaping association awards this year, loved seeing all their hard work paying off both on and off the tools.
8. Be honest: what parts of tech/software do you secretly geek out on?
I think like a lot of others who work in this space, AI is the one thing that is taking us all by storm. Each day there are new things being released, so seeing how we can implement it into our day to day is scary… but cool.
9. Outside of work, what does a typical weekend look like for you?
Other than chasing two daughters around the house, we do our best to get some good beach days in, catch up with mates and or get some good bush walks in!
10. Are you a footy / league / cricket tragic? Who do you support and why should people not hold that against you?
Sharks fan for footy, cricket tragic and also get stuck into the football over in England, but don’t talk to me about that because my team Everton are s**t.
11. If you weren’t working in support, what job could you see yourself doing on the tools?
I would love to have gotten into Landscaping, that is the one DIY activity I like doing at home!
12. Every tradie has a shocker story – what’s the biggest stuff-up you’ve made on a job, project, or DIY attempt?
Helped design a staircase and forgot to leave room for a railing/ballustrade….made for an expensive rebuild.
13. What’s one thing you wish every new NextMinute customer knew before they got started?
The more time you invest into learning, the better outcomes you’ll have at the end of the day.
14. Lightning round:
- Coffee order: Americano or Dirty Chai Latte
- Go-to knock-off drink: Anything wet…
- Favourite arvo snack: BBQ Shapes and cheese
- Song you’d put on the site radio: Ave Maria
- Tool you’d most hate to lose: Measuring tape - more so the missus stops measuring things using her armspan..
16. What’s something people might be surprised to learn about you?
I’m actually really charming.
17. Any message you’d like to pass on to Aussie tradies thinking about giving NextMinute a go?
[Insert Nike slogan]
.avif)
