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About Us
Designing websites for businesses since 1999
The LAD Website Services Pty Ltd, a family owned business, was founded in September 1999 to provide an all inclusive website service for small business.
We are different from other designers in that we also host and maintain the sites we create for a fixed monthly fee. This means clients can avoid the cost of purchasing programmes and paying salaries for staff training yet still have an up-to-date website.
All projects are undertaken with a results focused strategy – attractive and effective site design combined with a well structured and executed online marketing program. We aim to generate business for our clients. We see 'website services' not as a 'expense', rather as an 'investment' that when executed well generates the highest return of all marketing activities.
Learn more about why you should choose The LAD to manage your online presence.
Our Key Staff
The following staff lead the Team that have helped hundreds of small businesses across Australia run their online presence:
Darren Sproats B.Comm (Melb.)
Manager - Business Development
Having completed his commerce degree at the University of Melbourne in 1999, Darren was keen to start his own business. Seeing The LAD as a great opportunity to meet a market need as well as having strong growth potential, he decided to co-found the business.
"We sometimes worry that because we're cheap some might think our sites must be of low quality. However, because we are offering sites for rent, our pricing structure is not directly comparable to most other designers. We concentrate on providing a high quality site with a low upfront cost and payment spread overtime.
"Although we could charge more, there are plenty of designers out there catering to the high end market. We prefer to reach a greater number of people and allow them to cost effectively use the Internet to grow their business.
"By endeavouring to always offer the best service, in particular the best value for money, the company will prosper longer term."
Darren's primary role is business development. However, being a small business he also handles the studio's day to day operations including project scheduling.
He is also the chief copywriter for many of our clients.
"We find most small business people work incredibly long hours, so our clients really appreciate our content writing service - included in our package free of charge."
He enjoys business, reading, sailing, wine and fine food ... with pleasant company!
Craig Sproats
Manager - Design
With a background in computer programming and creative arts, Craig manages the design team at The LAD. He also works closely with John to turn eCommerce tools into functional websites that maximise the return on our clients' investment.
"Our driving motivation is to help small business use technology to efficiently run their businesses. You see so many business websites that are out of date and running specials that expired months ago. The ability for our clients to have their websites professionally updated within 24 hours gives them a distinct edge over their competitors."
Craig also contributes to projects by way of consulting and project management, ensuring that sites are completed on time and within budget.
Craig has a passion for cooking, Ashtanga yoga and camping in the Victorian high country.
Yadnesh Karvir (MS in Info Sys, RMIT)
Manager - Programming
With over 4 years' experience in Web programming before completing his Masters degree in Information Systems at RMIT University, Yadnesh was keen to continue his career in the field of web development and eCommerce. In “The LAD” he found a team of likeminded people who strive to provide quality service to their clients and in the process explore innovative technologies on the Internet.
Yadnesh's primary focus is keeping The LAD abreast of new technologies. He specializes in the new Microsoft .NET platform, and building web based eCommerce tools with PHP and ASP.NET. He handles the programmatic aspects of a project from concept to completion.
"Websites are now a complicated area for companies to manage. People running a business are busy. Who has the time to learn and customize a Do-It-Yourself shopping cart, let alone learn a scripting language to design one from scratch? It is our experience every company needs a certain amount of customization to make a feature work effectively. The cookie-cutter approach is very, very limited. We aim to enable small businesses to cost effectively outsource their fully customized website so they can focus on what they do best."
Yadnesh is very passionate about cricket and maintains that, if not an IT developer, he would have loved to play the game at a professional level. Basically, he is a sports freak!
John Sproats
Manager - Administration
Having spent 26 years with National Mutual in investments and actuarial, John took an opportunity to change direction.
After completing his steel Roberts 38' yacht, he decided to pursue an idea that he had been nurturing since 1996 ... an all inclusive website service for small businesses.
"Back in 1999, many companies contemplated designing a website inhouse. Now, with the programmes becoming more complex every year and customers demanding more functionality, it is no longer an economical option to develop a web presence inhouse for most small businesses. This trend to outsource can only continue, in our view, because the pace of change on the internet is incredible."
Having been heavily involved in most facets of the business since 1999, John's primary focus now is developing systems and procedures to promote the continued organic growth of the company.
"When we had only a few clients, our systems could be pretty ad hoc but as the number grew we realized important tasks were at risk of falling between the cracks. We needed better systems to keep track of key tasks generated by our growing client base. Our list of services was not only growing but was growing in complexity as well. "
However, when the work load demands it, you will find him happily completing a site design or coding an application.
When time permits, John enjoys reading, sailing, jogging and the next challenge ... whatever that may be!
We have created
hundreds of websites for business clients since we started in 1999.
Drive business to your website. Advertise on Google! It's a true marketing weapon!
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I have no reservations in providing the highest reference and testimony to the services and professional expertise provided by The LAD.
I joined my company up with The LAD some 4+ years ago and my business has grown exponentially with the number of people now using the internet on a day to day basis.
I operate an engineering business and that's what I'm good at, The LAD run our web advertising and that's what they are really "great at".
I cannot speak highly enough of the guy's at The LAD. You will not be disappointed.
Managing Director,
Sondex Australia Pty Ltd