By Alesha Capone
Family business Aus Lock & Safe will celebrate its 30th anniversary this month.
The business began when Bill Catlow bought a “little hardware store” in Railway Avenue, Laverton.
It was later re-located to Aviation Road; in 2005, it moved to Laverton North.
The company now employs about 20 staff and manufactures its own safes, which it sells online and around Australia.
Mr Catlow’s son, Jason, who started with the company as an apprentice, is now a director.
The business retains a strong family flavor, as Jason’s wife, Samantha, is the marketing manager and his mother, Agnes, is the bookkeeper.
Bill Catlow has retired, but still visits occasionally to lend a hand. He said that 30 years ago, he “never envisioned” the business would become such a success.
“It’s a credit to Jason – it was an achievement for him, he’s done a lot of work,” he said.
“I’d also like to acknowledge and thank everyone in the western suburbs who has supported us through all this.”
In 2013, Aus Lock & Safe was awarded the Business of the Year Award at the Wyndham Business Awards, while Jason was named runner-up in Businessperson of the Year.
Jason said that Aus Lock & Safe retained several clients from its “early days”, including the defence force bases in Point Cook and Laverton, the Westside Hotel and other Laverton and Laverton North-based businesses.
