Welcome to the ‘family scrap’
Who knew a scrap yard could be so interesting? There’s more than meets the eye to any business, and Scrap Palace is the perfect example.
Scrap Palace, also known as ‘The Big Pink Money Machine’ first opened their doors in 1998. Twenty years on, it’s a well-known Hamilton scrap yard, where people visit for a connection just as much as to drop their scrap off.
Hayden Jamieson (22) has been working at Scrap Palace for nine months and says that walking through the gates every day feels like he’s going to a family event, and not work.
Hayden began working at Scrap Palace after being asked by owner, Brett Goodwin to help out for a couple of hours, outside of his normal job. He went in and has been there ever since. After experiencing multiple unpleasant workplaces, Hayden believes that Brett has done an amazing job at making Scrap Palace an enjoyable place to be for both the staff and customers. “Brett provides a hot breakfast most mornings and won’t ask staff to do anything he wouldn’t be willing to do himself” he says.
A team of seven are on hand to greet customers when they bring their scrap down to ‘The Big Pink Money Machine’. The staff have bonded over their love for the automotive industry and Hayden feels they have more of a brotherhood than a colleagues relationship. He says trust is important working around the machinery in the yard, and confidently confirmed that he trusts everyone that he works with.
“It’s almost like a big family there, really. So, it is like you have a few brothers and you do get into some arguments with them. It can be quite amusing.“
Hayden Jamieson
Hayden says there is a wide range of customers that come to Scrap Palace, ranging from dairy farmers to teenagers and extends to the elderly. Some people visit daily, and others visit once or twice a year.
The rapport that’s built between the customers and the staff is strong. The one thing that everyone who walks through the Scrap Palace gates has in common, is that they are treated like they are a part of the family. Hayden says, “the entire team will engage in conversations with customers, sometimes this will start over an interesting item that has been brought in, and other times it may be over the weather.”
A common interest between the staff and some of the regular customers is the automotive industry. Brett has extensive knowledge in the engineering and automotive fields and provides advice and assistance to many.
A lot of the people that visit Scrap Palace have come after attending an event that Scrap Palace has hosted or sponsored. A main event they’re known for is The Scrap Palace Burnouts in Morrinsville. The last competition was held in 2016 but there are customers that come in and still bring up the Burnouts on a regular basis.
Scrap Palace has made a huge impact within the community, giving many people somewhere they feel welcome.
