A story of trust, teamwork, and what happens when good businesses back a good plan - This is how SKD evolved Waikato Door Specialist's online presence.
A Legacy Built on Craftsmanship
Since 1986, Waikato Door Specialists (WDS) has been keeping homes and businesses across the region moving. What started as a father-and-son operation in Hamilton has grown into a respected team of 20 - known for doing things properly, showing up on time, and never cutting corners.
Their name carries serious weight in the Waikato - not because they shout the loudest, but because their doors open when they should, every time.
But while their service was first-class, their digital presence was stuck in the past. The website looked like it belonged in another decade - clunky, slow, and invisible to search engines. It wasn’t doing justice to the people behind the business.
SK Digital was more then happy to help!
Project Results at a Glance
✅ 21 new enquiries within 3 weeks of launch
💰 Approx $18,000 in quoted & invoiced revenue
⚡ Improved visibility & brand trust across Waikato region
The Introduction: Through Prime Strategies
This project began through a connection with Prime Strategies, an incredible team of business advisors and coaches who help Kiwi companies get strategic about growth. After some initial conversations, Brad White - one of Prime’s top advisors - reached out to discuss WDS.
From the first chat, it was clear: this was a great business held back by an outdated website. Their results were strong despite their digital presence. That was encouraging - because it meant that with the right website and strategy, their upside was huge.
As Shaun from SK Digital put it:
“The fact that WDS was thriving with a dinosaur website was actually motivating. If we could modernise that, we’d bring a hell of a lot of digital usefulness to an industry that’s a bit behind the times.” – Shaun Kirkham, Founder | SK Digital
The Challenge: Turning Legacy Into Leverage
The brief was simple but powerful:
Create a modern, functional, trustworthy website that reflects the WDS brand - professional, practical, and people-focused. There was no need for gimmicks. Just clarity, trust, and usability.
The challenge was to:
Restructure the website to make it easy for customers to find installs, repairs, and maintenance services
Optimise for search engines without overdoing it – staying natural, helpful, and NZ-local
Capture more enquiries online and measure them properly
Showcase WDS’s heritage and their position as one of the region’s top Garador dealers
The Collaboration: Building It Right
This project was a true collaboration between WDS, Prime Strategies, and SK Digital - a textbook example of what happens when everyone’s aligned around a shared goal.
A special mention goes to Brad White, whose business guidance kept everything on track. His involvement showed the real-world value of having a skilled advisor in your corner.
"You can tell Brad genuinely cares about his clients – he’s not just ticking boxes. He wants to see them win."
Working alongside Colleen Bawden, WDS’s Director of Operations, was another highlight. Between managing a busy team and coordinating installs across the North Island, Colleen still found the time to help the project move smoothly.
“She’s the kind of person who just gets things done – practical, focused, and easy to work with.”
WDS also invested in professional photography from Conrad at Picture Show, SK Digital’s lead photographer. The visuals brought the people and projects behind the business to life, adding trust and character to every page.
The Solution: A Website That Works Hard
The goal wasn’t to make the flashiest site in the industry - it was to make one that people could trust. The new WDS website was designed and built on the Rocketspark platform, giving it speed, security, and simplicity.
SK Digital rebuilt it from the ground up, with:
A clear, SEO-friendly structure
User-focused navigation for both homeowners and commercial clients
Faster load times and mobile optimisation
Fresh, honest copywriting that sounded like real people
High-quality visuals showcasing installs, repairs, and team culture
Every decision came back to one principle - make it easy for customers to find what they need and feel confident contacting the team.
The Impact: Real Results Within Weeks
Within weeks of launch, WDS was already seeing the difference.
Brad’s report, three weeks post-launch:
“Three weeks after the new site went live, we’d logged 21 unique web enquiries worth around $18,000 in revenue – and that’s not counting repairs still in progress. Proof that when a business invests in doing things properly, it pays off fast.” – Brad White, Prime Strategies Advisor
Beyond the numbers, there was a noticeable shift in brand perception - from “old school” to “trusted and professional.” The new site became an asset the team was proud to share.
In Colleen’s Words
“From our first meeting to the final launch, our experience with Shaun Kirkham at SK Digital has been fantastic! Shaun understood exactly what our brand was about and delivered a website we are incredibly proud of. The process was stress-free, and communication was excellent.” – Colleen Bawden, Director of Operations | Waikato Door Specialists
A Quietly Proud Partnership
This project represents what SK Digital is all about - honest strategy, great people, and the discipline to execute properly.
We didn’t just make a website. We helped a local legacy business future-proof their reputation.
And in return, we got to work with people who remind us why we do this - humble, hardworking, and bloody good at what they do.
What’s Next: Building a Resource Hub for Customers
This isn’t the end – it’s the foundation.
Next phase: SK Digital and WDS are now planning a resource library to help homeowners troubleshoot garage door issues online – making the website a genuinely useful tool that solves problems before someone even calls for help.
Learnings
When great businesses invest in proper digital infrastructure, the payoff is fast and measurable.
Collaboration between a business advisor, the client, and the digital team creates alignment and momentum.
Even “low-glamour” industries can look world-class online when they lead with authenticity.
