Ever wanted to find out how Foxy Fitters really spend their time? We get up close and personal with Senior Installer Dan Mckie (Big Fox) to find out exactly what goes on behind closed wardrobe doors…
Dan, we’re keen to find out a bit more about the man that fits Fox Wardrobes. Tell me a little bit about yourself growing up.
I grew up here on the Northern Beaches in Cromer and actually went to Primary School with Vic and Chris (Volpe)! We moved to Warriewood, then I left school at 16 to do my cabinet-making apprenticeship.
How did you end up at Fox Wardrobes?
I did a stint in Landscape Gardening but then decided to go back to the cabinet-making business. At that time Vic (Volpe) was installing some kitchen cabinets for me and happened to need someone – I liked the idea of a local job with people I knew, so here I am today working solely with Chris for Fox Wardrobes.
How do you like to spend your spare time?
I used to surf a lot before I broke my ankle in a motorbike accident down on the farm. Now I enjoy clay target shooting in Duffy’s Forest, or going fishing. A friend of mine has a farm down South (just west of Goulburn); I love to take the family there, just spending time outdoors in the fresh air.
What is important to you in life?
My family. No question. By that I mean my immediate family – my wife and my two beautiful girls, Ruby (4) and Georgie (2) – and of course my parents who live nearby. I see them every week, as well as my two sisters. We catch up about every fortnight.
Who would you say are the biggest influencers in your life?
Mum and Dad.
Customers and colleagues all speak very highly of you – what do you see as your personal strengths?
I don’t really see that I have any! I just get in there and get the job done. I move straight on to the next job and I don’t waste time. I aim to leave the house how I found it, as that’s the last impression the customer will have of Fox. I’m on time, I leave it clean and I do the job right from the start.
It’s clearly a winning combination. Do you enjoy meeting new people?
I would say that I’m probably quite shy! At the beginning I didn’t enjoy that side of the business, and always focused on the job. But now, as I’m meeting more and more people, I’ve come to enjoy that aspect more.
If you could listen to one music track while you were working, what would it be?
I love talkback radio more than music, though Johnny Cash would be right up there as well. I’m a 2GB and Triple M man.
Do you have a life philosophy?
Time with family, that’s my absolute priority. Swimming at the beach with my kids at the weekend is what makes it all worthwhile.
Is there anything personally you would like to change, improve on or learn? I’m thinking Salsa lessons, yoga or spear fishing…?
Definitely not Salsa! My personal goal is to get my ankle fixed up so I can run again.
What’s your favourite movie?
Ace Ventura every time.
Let’s talk wardrobes. What’s the Fox culture like – could you describe it for us?
It’s fun and fast. I would say we work fast, but we have fun along the way. We’re a good team.
What makes the Fox team work so well in your opinion?
We see each other every morning in the factory before we go out to the jobs, and we all feel like we’re part of something. It’s a great company to work for because the staff feel valued. We have weekly meetings where we all have a voice to contribute our opinions, and we all get heard.
What would surprise people to know about working at Fox?
People think we can just chuck it in – it’s only a wardrobe, right? What they don’t realise is that we need to be able to do it quickly, efficiently and accurately. Most importantly it requires correct measuring at the very start. It might look easy but it’s not.
Just between us, could you quietly just shove it in?
Yes, of course! But it wouldn’t be done right and to the level of quality that Fox delivers.
What is the most interesting part of your job?
I like the variation of going from house to house, meeting new people and meeting the brief.
What’s your best day?
When everything works well and to measurement. That’s my best day.
How often does that happen?
Today! My job was detailed to take 1.5 hours, but I got it done in 22 minutes.
What do you personally enjoy the most about fitting wardrobes?
I love it when I go in a room and there’s nothing there – except maybe an old Ikea rack – and then on the completion you see the customer satisfaction and delight. It’s awesome. Making customers happy and actually seeing the difference you can make to someone’s life is such a good feeling.
What’s the hardest type of installation for you?
Swing doors. It’s quite a time consuming process and a bit like fitting a cupboard without a back holding the position.
Does your heart sink when you see awkward spaces?
Yep! But only in such a scenario where the job is completed how the customer has asked, but I can see it doesn’t really work. Although if the client is happy, that’s all that matters!
To your mind, what makes Fox stand out in the marketplace?
I think it’s our customer service, and that we have such a great team. The next job doesn’t start until this one is resolved. Problems will always happen, but at Fox it’s how you deal with them that matters. We’re all on the same page with that.
If you weren’t working at Fox, where would you be and what would you be doing?
I’d definitely move down to a farm in the country. I love working with timber outdoors.
If you were left stranded on a desert island for the rest of your days, and you could only take one thing with you, what would it be?
My dog.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Ideally living in Narrabeen out on the lake, with maybe a couple more kids if my wife gets her way. Although I do have two sisters, so maybe not….