Blair Hammond
Director
Tell us about the Buddii story, when it first began and how it has grown?
Buddii was officially branded in 2015. When we first began we had a team of about 4-5 brokers under my operation, and in the 7 years since then our team has just about doubled in size.
When coming up with the name for Buddii, we had a lot that we wanted to keep in mind – we wanted this company to be a one stop shop for all things finance, and we wanted to have a strong, buildable online presence – and most importantly we wanted a fun mascot. We decided on an ant as a mascot as Buddii kind of mimics an ant colony – I’m the Queen Ant and I have all these troops below me working hard to support the business.
In terms of a name, we decided on Buddii as a name as we felt it was relatable and welcoming, but a bit quirky with the spelling, with a bit of an Aussie tinge to it as well. The two I’s in the logo were designed the way they are to represent ant antennae.
Why are you passionate about the finance industry?
My “why” is really the satisfaction you feel when you’ve made someone’s dreams come true – that smile on their face when they get their first car – that’s what makes me love what I do. What might start out as a transaction turns into a very strong relationship – a lot of my close friends first started out as a Buddii client, but now I spend my spare time with them. Repeat business makes me even more excited too – seeing them continue to grow.
I have a background in finance and accounting – I graduated from University of Queensland, St Lucia with a Dual Bachelor of Business and Commerce specialising in Finance and Accounting. I was good with numbers but even better with people, and when I decided I didn’t want to go down the accounting path I thought “where else can I go with this?”, and I found my feet as a broker.
Why is Buddii the best in the business?
Lots of brokerages have just one specialty, whereas here at Buddii we have a very diverse range of product options, covering just about any finance option you’ll need – we really are a one stop shop when it comes to finance.
The experience of myself and my business partners definitely sets us apart as well. We have over 100 years of experience between the three of us, and that knowledge definitely helps us build trust with our customers. Trustworthiness is very important in the brokerage industry, as is loyalty – our team is as good as they are because we train the right way and hire the right people.
Tell us about the Buddii team?
The team at Buddii really is a reflection on me. Our lending panel is very broad and unique – we have access to lenders that traditional brokers generally won’t have access to. As I mentioned before our team has just about doubled in the past 7 years, and I’m really hoping to continue to see this growth as we move forward.
Tell us about some of the feedback you receive from customers
Some of the feedback we hear often is that the packages we offer are very competitive within the market, and clients are over the moon with the end result they see. They’re very grateful for the service that the team gives and prides themselves on, and we commonly hear that our Buddii Brokers will think outside the box, put their feet in the shoes of the customer and find the best solution to their problem while acting in the best interest of the customer.
We’re very proud of our level and quality of service, and hearing feedback like this so often is just an amazing feeling to know our hard work is paying off.
Quickfire Round!
What do you do like to do in your spare time?
Running is a bit of an escape for me – if I’m having a tough day or week, I can go for a run and everything just goes away. I also love golf – playing or watching. It’s a sport constantly challenges me, you can never stop getting better at golf and I really love that about it. I’m also a massive foodie, you’ll catch me wining and dining down in Brisbane’s fine dining restaurants more often than not.
Do you have any pets?
My wife has a dog – a 12 year old cross terrier poodle, he’s basically my son.
Favourite holiday destination?
Based on my last 10 or so years of travel I’d have to say Japan. I love skiing, and skiing and Japan go hand in hand. My wife is also Japanese and we met through my previous Japanese travels, so it has a special place in my heart.
Spirit animal?
Definitely a lion – you know they’re pretty powerful creatures, leaders of the pack and very fierce competitors, but also protective of their family.
If you could have a super power what would it be?
I’d want to be immortal!
