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BLOGS
An innovator and thought-provoking personality, Tim Dawson is the CEO and Founder of Lauxes Grates. He is a veteran with a comprehensive history of working in the electrical and sanitary manufacturing industry. He is an adept leader in Sales, Business Development, Marketing Strategy, Business Strategy, and Leadership. With his strong business development skills, he has successfully stimulated extraordinary company cultures and principles.
A Sneak Peek of the Professional Pursuits
Born and raised on the Gold Coast, Tim’s professional experience lies in cabinet making, electrical work, real estate, and construction. Despite his experience in these fields, ultimately, he chose to innovate the areas of construction and its products.
Throughout his long-standing career, he has won many accolades and the most recent of them include:
- Young Entrepreneur Gold Coast 2021 Winner (Manufacturing, Wholesale & Distribution)
- Protrade United Outstanding Workplace 2021 Winner
- Corporate Vision 2021 Winner (Best Indoor & Outdoor Drainage Manufacturer QLD)
- Gold Coast Business Excellence June 2021 Winner (Student Employability)
Building The BedRock
Originally at Lauxes Products, Tim began to sell various products through the business and eventually decided to pour his efforts into linear drainage.
With this decision came immense responsibilities which will open many doors of opportunities for him in the future. He knew it wasn’t all fun and games, and also it was quite lonely at the start.
He was working around the clock to make sure the business would be a success. He got there in the end and now has 50 team members, supportive mates, and a beautiful family who help him along the journey.
The Great, Lauxes Grates
Established in 2010, Lauxes Grates is the industry leader and exclusive designer of versatile, award-winning indoor and outdoor linear drainage. The team of developers at Lauxes Grates has taken the time to create innovative, aesthetic products that meet market specifications and fill gaps in the industry.
Available in a range of styles and colors, its linear grates offer on-site customizability and ease of installation, making trades lives easier, while adding the wow factor to any indoor or outdoor space. Available through over 1800 wholesalers in Australia and New Zealand, Lauxes Grates is now taking on the world, with products going here, there, and everywhere – spreading its wings across the USA, England, France, and South Africa.
As an industry leader, it has also won some pretty grate awards over the years for its performance and innovation. Some of them include categories such as team leadership, outstanding workplace, the business of the year, student engagement, and young entrepreneurs of Australia.
Lauxes Grates prides itself on being a grate company, with grate products and an even grater team culture.
Bridging the Gap in the Drainage Market
Having worked in several different industries, Tim saw a huge gap in the drainage market. So, he realized the need to innovate and jumped all in. He also knew what it’s like to be using material that’s not up to scratch and over the years he has worked with products that he knew the person who made it has never used it.
That’s one of the many things that makes Lauxes Grates different. Today, it has become the popular choice for durability, functionality, and affordability in the market.
Blazing a Trail with an Exceptional Team Culture
Here at Lauxes Grates, the organization is not just winning awards for its drainage, it is also often recognized for its company culture.
Tim is a tremendous leader, who with his experience has crafted an organization that is inclusive of its employee in every possible way. Team Culture has become a buzzword that does its rounds for many negative reasons. However, Tim is the epitome of shattering the odds and building a sacred and grate team culture.
He fondly states- I pride myself on providing a workplace where employees love to come to work, one that is full of inclusivity, positivity, and fun! We live and breathe our core values, which are:
- We don’t do boring
- We make shit happen
- We stay hungry
- We speak POFL (positive outcome-focused language)
Everyone plays an important role in the business, and everyone is celebrated for their wins, big or small, personal, or professional. Ongoing support is offered to all team members, including wellness allowances, leadership training, team reflections, and flexible working conditions. Together, the organization rides its wave to success as a team. From guest speakers to happy hours, and award galas to football corporate boxes, we certainly have fun.
The USP: Innovation and Customization
With over two decades of combined and extensive trade experience, Lauxes Grates is one of Australia and New Zealand’s most exclusive designers and manufacturers of versatile indoor and outdoor drainage solutions.
Created with durability and ease in mind, the company’s linear grates are the perfect indoor or outdoor drainage solution. Designed with anodized aluminium, the grates are protected from corrosion and wear resistance, making this aluminium the second hardest substance known to man. Due to this, all its grates come with a lifetime rust-proof warranty and a minimum 25-year guarantee of no fading or discoloration.
A major factor in the favorability of their products is their customizability. Able to be cut to size, easily on-site makes the trades job easy. With no pre-attached waste outlets or end caps, the grates can be tailored easily to what the residential or commercial projects require.
“And my favorite point of difference is our team and its culture. I can safely say there is no team out there like the Lauxes team and I am so proud to surround myself daily with these grate people,” concludes Tim.
Serving the Corporate Social Responsibility Resourcefully
Tim believes that corporate social responsibility ensures that all companies, big or small, are operating in a way that is beneficial and positive to society. CSR helps promote a more productive and helpful work environment for everyone, allowing everyone to feel as though they are making a difference.
CSR also contributes to brand perception and overall business success, fostering a healthy team, who cares about its customers and the wider community.
At Lauxes Grates, CSR is considered seriously. The core values of the organization emphasize integrating a sense of social well-being among all. It is widely involved with and donates regularly to several charities, including Animal Welfare League, The Sanctuary Women’s Refuge, the Titans Together Foundation, and many more.
Tim personally also donates his time to helping upcoming entrepreneurs from Mini Boss and Study Gold Coast, as well as participating in the yearly Vinnies CEO Sleepout for homelessness.
A Take on the Current Market Trends
Linear drains continue to take the market by storm. With renovations booming in the last few years, residential and commercial property owners are wanting drainage solutions that match the aesthetics and simplicity of the ‘modern-day space’.
With bold color choices being used in many properties, Lauxes Grates’ gold and black grates are currently the most popular in the market, with an unprecedented number of sales.
Embracing a Bright Future
Lauxes Grates is always striving to “change the world one grate at a time.” The future is bright for the company, with expansion into the USA currently underway. The company will be setting up an entity over there to service the growing demand for its products.
The linear grates are also making their way into all corners of the world and will continue to grow their international presence. In Australia, the company will keep doing what it is doing, growing its distributor base, expanding its grate team (it has successfully hired 18 new team members in 2022 alone), and listening to market and product demand.
