Henry Ladd is a Brisbane-based builder whose ironic social media posts are getting attention Australia-wide.
“It's more fun than building a business,” the 30-year-old tells SBS Small Business Secrets.
“And if new clients come from it - great, that's fantastic!”
While Henry’s not expecting to host his own television show just yet, he enjoys having a subtle dig at personal grooming ads or renovation shows.
“I had to go and buy a dust shroud for a grinder just to cut down some concrete,” Henry explains.
"It's quite good for exfoliating your skin" Henry says demonstrating the tool for a different purpose in his car.
"It's got these stiff little bristles. It's also got a little moustache comb."
Henry describes his parody of tool reviews and skincare reviews as 'just a little impromptu thing before I got out of the car'.
“It was probably more like work avoidance really, to be totally honest.”
Henry Ladd at work on a building site Credit: SBS / Matt Guest
And while he tries to apply sustainable principles to his building projects, most of the time he is busy keeping up with daily tasks.
“It is a minimum of eight hours probably closer to nine and a half hours a day on site. And that’s just doing the actual work,” he says.
“And then at home, I need to look at the new work coming in.
“It takes time to quote, and I'm not complaining, but it seems to chew up a lot of hours.”
It also hasn’t been an easy start to 2022, with Omicron sweeping the Sunshine State.
“I did have COVID at the start of the year, right on the first week that I was meant to be starting back and it knocked me out for a week,” he says.
That income disruption followed six weeks on the wrong side of the Queensland border, due to COVID restrictions.
“My partner and I got stuck in New South Wales last year which was not good financially, by any means.”Henry is a sole company director, with many roles to juggle. So he uses Xero software to keep on top of the paperwork.
“The main way I use Xero for is the Xero receipts app on my phone.
“I can buy something on the company debit card, scan in the receipt, it analyses it.
“And then when I next log in on my laptop, it's reconciling with the bank account and showing the expense.”
Joseph Lyons, Xero MD Australia and Asia Source: Supplied / Supplied Xero
"At Xero, we have a range of tools to help new businesses start manage, and also to grow their business.
He says many tradies are managing their finances and their invoices in between jobs. And, in some instances, from their vehicles.
“Xero offers tools and processes that assist allow owner-operators who don't have a traditional office set up, to manage their finances on the go and on any device.“
Henry says Xero software also helps him keep track of time worked.
“If I'm doing hourly jobs, I put all that information into a Xero invoice. And it's very simple.
“And then I can send it as soon as I'm done, rather than forgetting about it and then thinking I need to invoice people two, three weeks later.
Henry Ladd is growing his business Credit: SBS / Matt Guest
“The construction industry has remained incredibly resilient [during COVID],” Xero’s Joseph Lyons says.
“And in fact, ABS data also supports the growth we're seeing in new businesses starting up in the construction industry.”
While building a business is serious business, Henry is proud to share the lighter side with his growing fan base.
One recent post is a parody of sun safety ads. His version might be ironic but the message is still important, especially in the Brisbane heat.
“Obviously the sun safety stuff is a crucial – wear a hat, sun cream, long, long sleeves, most days that’s what I try to do.
“And most people are aware of it, but everybody needs a reminder every now and then.”
“Generally people seem to engage with it.
“I actually had a woman email me a few months ago with a set of plans, saying she found me on Instagram.
“She said ‘I like what you're doing. Are you interested in my renovation?’
“So literally my sense of humour was a big part of getting the job.”
