The Puzzle Factory: Real Talk for NZ Electricians and Trade Businesses

How does a family go from running the Arkles Bay post office to creating Pauanui and some of New Zealand’s most iconic waterfront communities?Shana Hopper-McCully from Hopper Developments joins Alex a...

Vanessa Crafts has earned a reputation as the badass of New Zealand health and safety.She’s asking the uncomfortable questions, challenging pointless box-ticking and pushing for practical reform that ...

Is buying a house in New Zealand still worth it in 2026?In this episode of The Puzzle Factory, Alex sits down with Wayne Henry, founder of Wayne Henry Mortgages and a mortgage adviser with more than 2...

Connor Ransley joins The Puzzle Factory to break down how attention became one of the most valuable currencies in modern business.Connor shares his journey from dropping out of engineering and working...

Darren from Ashby Pies and the man behind Darren joins The Puzzle Factory for one of the most Kiwi episodes we’ve done yet.From growing up in West Auckland and working in some of New Zealand and Austr...

Keith Of All Trades has built a massive following by saying what every tradie is thinking. From customer nightmares and cat door controversies to life on the tools, social media, business ownership an...

Country bars, tradie life, social media, and controversy... Jesse James jumps into The Puzzle Factory and doesn’t hold back. We talk the rise of Jolene, why authenticity matters, trades vs university,...

Mikey Smith from Guardian Smith joins The Puzzle Factory for one of the realest conversations we’ve had yet.From growing up around mechanics and rental cars to building a finance business with nearly ...

We’re back for Season 3.This season goes deeper.Business, money, mindset, and the real stories behind it all.Better guests. Bigger conversations. Less fluff.If you’ve been following from the start, yo...

This bonus episode of The Puzzle Factory features a conversation with Braeden from Voltsy, exploring one of the most unique career paths in the electrical industry.Braeden shares stories from his upbr...

In this bonus episode, Alex sits down with Les from Standup Recruitment to unpack the wild early days of his career, including cold calling off fire escapes while working as a commercial painter, chas...

This episode of The Puzzle Factory is a must-listen for any tradie wanting to grow their business in the digital age. We sit down with Stanley Henry, founder of The Attention Seeker, to unpack his jou...

In this episode of The Puzzle Factory, we sit down with Jacob and Ance—the husband-and-wife duo behind Standout Electrical in Auckland. They’ve just been honoured as recipients of the Master Electrici...

In this episode of The Puzzle Factory with Annamalai “Andy” Alagappan from Yarns with Andy, we cover:🔨 The real state of the NZ construction industry right now – no sugar-coating📈 Our bold predictio...

In this episode of The Puzzle Factory, Alex talks with Sam Groombridge, co‑founder of Big Bang Energy Solutions, a family‑run HVAC and electrical design company servicing Whangārei through to the Bay ...

👉 "HRD Global 100 Top HR Executive Sonya Bloomfield shares game‑changing tips to fix your trade business culture – and keep your best people 💡⚡"In this episode of The Puzzle Factory, we’re...

In this episode of The Puzzle Factory, we sit down with Matt Bennett — founder of Team MBE — to hear the real story behind one of Auckland’s fastest-growing electrical companies.From a working-class u...

In this episode of The Puzzle Factory, Andrew Murphy, Director of Planet Electrical, shares how his lifelong passion for renewable energy 🌱 and sustainability shaped both his career and his business....

From growing up in Kaitaia to becoming one of New Zealand’s leading KiwiSaver experts, John Bell’s story is all about vision, grit, and smart financial thinking. In this episode of The Puzzle Factory,...

Jeremy Foster started in the trenches - knocking on doors, selling direct to homeowners. From those humble beginnings, he helped grow HRV into a household Kiwi brand, and today he’s the General Manage...

In this no-fluff episode of The Puzzle Factory, Alex sits down with Luke Kemeys — chartered accountant, host of Keep the Change, co-founder of Next Advisory, and part of the crew behind Boys Get Paid ...

He went viral for skulling the worst booze on Facebook. Now he’s a professional gambler, personal brand powerhouse, and sharp operator in the digital game. In this episode of The Puzzle Factory, Alex ...

In this powerful relaunch of The Puzzle Factory, Alex sits down with David Baker, founder of Rapid QS — the estimating service shaking up the New Zealand construction industry. We dive deep into the b...

We made it! In this season finale of The Puzzle Factory, Tait and I look back on an incredible first season—nearly 8,000 listens and views across platforms! We dive into the steep learning curve of la...

Guest: Mike “Mugsy” Mugglestone – Director, Full Power Electrical (Warkworth)This week on The Puzzle Factory, we’re joined by Mike “Mugsy” Mugglestone, the man behind Full Power Electrical in Warkwort...

Episode 8: How to Quote an Electrical Job with Alex HulmePricing electrical work isn’t just about throwing out a number—it’s about accuracy, profitability, and making sure you’re not selling yourself ...

The Puzzle Factory - Episode 7🎙 Guest: Paul Sievers – Devonport ElectricalEpisode Summary:Ever been burned by a “guaranteed leads” digital marketing promise? Or wondered why NZ’s electrical apprentic...

The Puzzle Factory - Episode 6Guest: Ronnie Tan – CreditworksEpisode Summary: In business, trust is everything—but how do you know if a customer is actually good for it? This week, Alex sits down with...

Blackout Electric - Episode 5Guest: Seb Weaver – Blackout Electric Episode Summary:In this episode, Alex sits down with long-time friend andBlackout Electric owner, Seb Weaver, for a conversation pack...

The Puzzle Factory - Episode 4Guest: Matt Melville - Rum and Que Episode Summary:In this episode, we catch up with Matt Melville, the founder ofRum and Que.Matt and Alex talk about his journey emigrat...

Hosts: Alex & Tait – Business Growth ExpertEpisode Summary:In this episode ofThe Puzzle Factory, Tait shares 5 actionable steps to prepare your business for 2025. From conducting a SWOT analysis t...

The Puzzle Factory - Episode [2]Guest: Craig Heaton - The 1st member to join NZ Trade Group Episode Summary:In this episode of The Puzzle Factory, Alex sits down with Craig Heaton of Heaton Electrical...

The Puzzle Factory - Episode [1]Guest: Leigh from Tradie HR - The Queen of All Things HR in the Trade IndustryEpisode Summary:In this episode of The Puzzle Factory, Alex sits down with the one and onl...

Welcome to The Puzzle Factory, the podcast where the electrical business gets broken down, one piece at a time. Hosted by Tait and Alex from NZ Trade Group, we mix expert insights with plenty of laugh...