In the early days of 2020, Bunnings was riding a wave of momentum. According to Managing Director Mike Schneider, “There was a really strong sense of positive momentum and great engagement with our customers, and with our team.” But when COVID-19 hit, everything shifted. “Business was quickly turned on its head,” he said.

While the world paused, Bunnings pushed forward—leaning into a strategy that put people at the centre. Over the following 18 months, the business thrived—growing its workforce by 25% and delivering a 25.5% uplift in profit in the first half of 2021. 

That success wasn’t just about supply chains or store openings. It was about something far more human: a connected, resilient team that felt seen, supported, and empowered.

Culture isn’t a buzzword, it’s a business driver

When others pulled back, Bunnings doubled down on building culture. Mike explained, “In times like that, you really need to find the strength and the resilience to be able to support your team, care for the people around you and really make sure that you’re making good business decisions.”

That care showed up in real and relatable ways—from livestream push-up challenges to team-wide competitions with community impact. One such idea, born during a live Q&A, became the “Challenge Accepted” initiative. Mike recalled, “One of our young managers asked if we were really live-to-air and challenged me to drop and give ten push-ups. That really got us thinking about ways we could create challenges within our business to engage our team.”

These challenges turned into moments of laughter, movement, and meaningful impact. “It’s given the team a great opportunity to be competitive with one another… to do a lot of good for their mental health by staying active, having fun and having a laugh, and also providing funds to much-needed community groups across Australia and New Zealand,” Mike said.

From Shop Floor to Strategy: Everyone’s Included

Rolling out real-time safety updates. Connecting with 10,000 new hires. Listening to and learning from team feedback. None of this happens overnight—or by accident.

As the ground shifted beneath Australia’s largest home improvement retailer, Enablo had their back, helping Bunnings pivot and adapt at pace. “Particularly changes with our operating model, when governments introduced different restrictions… it’s an opportunity to listen to our team members and hear from them what’s on their mind, ways that we can support them, and also to create that care and culture that’s vital right now,” Mike said.

The ability to stay agile and human in the face of crisis was underpinned by a trusted partnership. Enablo worked alongside Bunnings to co-create the connective tissue that kept 44,000+ people aligned, informed, and inspired—even in the most uncertain times.

When You Back Your People, They Back You

In an era where many businesses scrambled for survival, Bunnings grew stronger. Mike captured it simply: “As a company we’ve been able to pull together to support our team, with a focus of keeping our customers and teams safe… There’s a need to be really resilient, really focussed, and stay very committed to that idea of caring for the people around you, because in doing that, they’re caring for you as well.”

That ethos—of mutual care, of culture-led leadership, and of open, ongoing communication—created short-term wins, but more importantly, a long-term foundation for success.

Want to futureproof your frontline?

If you’re ready to build a culture that thrives under pressure and lifts your people higher, let’s talk. Enablo helps people-first organisations simplify work, spark engagement, and create connection that lasts.

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