Business helps shire earn new city status

Image from www.franklyn.net.au

THE growing prominence of Capalaba in the Redland economy reflects strongly in every edition of the Classifieds.

A scan of the Positions Vacant columns always shows Capalaba is indeed a hub of opportunity. The shire population can be grateful to the commercial sector for creating such a vibrant business community with excellent transport options.

Capalaba is moving with the times - and the area continues to underscore the shire's transition over decades from a rural economy to an urban, service-oriented base that truly deserves Redland's new city status.

The best part is that a lot of the business names that laid the foundation for the evolution continue to feature and look like staying for quite a while.

Such names include blinds, awnings and security products manufacturer Franklyn, now in its 21st year of operation.

FRANKLYN which Frank and Lynne Galea established in 1987, stood out in a recent edition with three advertisements as part of a recruiting drive.

The firm needs a junior factory hand, awning and security screen assemblers and a fabric cutter.

Production manager Michael Ford said about 30 people applied in just a few days. He said the recruitment was part of a reorganisation of Franklyn, which is preparing to expand to a new site in New Cleveland Road, Capalaba West.

The new plant, due to open before mid year, would accommodate the awning and timber venetian divisions. The company's well-known Moreton Bay Road premises would still operate and its Hook St property, now with roles including venetian production, would provide warehousing.

Michael, with a background in manufacturing and three years with Franklyn, said the firm's steady growth through increasing sales created the need for the new site.

"We simply ran out of space and now we are shuffling the departments a bit before the new factory is ready - that will be about three months from now," he said.

FRANKLYN'S custom-made blinds, awnings and security products feature in both the domestic and commercial markets.It manufactures its range "using only the highest quality components, supplying you with the very best products at competitive prices and earning the reputation for providing exceptional service, from the initial consultation to the final installation".

Michael said the structure as a genuine Galea family business had also played a major role in the Franklyn success story.

Thanks for joining me in the marvellous community of clasified advertising. This column has appeared in The Redland Times, Cleveland, Redland City, Queensland, Australia.