Get Charlie: How Vick & Carol Sharma Are Building a Leaner, Fairer Future for New Zealand Home Services

Get Charlie: How Vick & Carol Sharma Are Building a Leaner, Fairer Future for New Zealand Home Services

Finding a reliable tradesperson should not be difficult.

And being a great tradesperson should not mean taking on substantial debt, expensive franchise commitments or becoming an expert in marketing, administration and technology just to build a successful business.

After more than 27 years in the New Zealand service industry, Vick and Carol Sharma, Founder and Co-Founder of Get Charlie, believe there is a better way.

That belief is behind Get Charlie — a New Zealand-based home services platform designed to make life easier for homeowners while helping good independent tradespeople and service professionals build stronger, more sustainable businesses.

Get Charlie was not created from a textbook or simply conceived as another technology start-up.

It grew from decades of real-world business experience.

27 Years of Learning What Customers and Tradies Really Need

Vick & Carol Sharma have spent more than 27 years working in the service industry.

Their journey began in 1998 with the business that developed into Service King, serving New Zealand homes and businesses and building long-term relationships across the property services sector.

During those years, Vick & Carol Sharma experienced many of the challenges that New Zealand business owners have faced.

They navigated economic cycles, the 2007–2008 Global Financial Crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, labour shortages, rising operating costs, supply disruptions, inflation and continuing global uncertainty.

Some years brought growth.

Others brought difficult decisions.

But every challenging period taught Vick & Carol Sharma something about resilience.

One principle became particularly important.

Keep the business lean, adaptable and focused on people.

As Vick Sharma often says, having a lean operation can make a business more resilient and better able to navigate challenges.

That philosophy has become an important part of the thinking behind Get Charlie.

The Problem Get Charlie Wants to Help Solve

Imagine you are a homeowner.

Your tap starts leaking. Your heat pump needs servicing. The lawns need attention. You need a handyman, electrician, cleaner, painter or someone to repair an appliance.

Where do you begin?

You may search online, ask friends, scroll through directories, send multiple enquiries and wait for someone to respond.

Even after finding someone, another question remains: Can I trust the person coming into my home?

Now look at the same situation from the tradesperson's perspective.

A skilled tradie may be excellent at plumbing, electrical work, painting, repairs, lawn care or property maintenance.

But running a business requires much more.

They also need to find customers, prepare quotes, manage schedules, send invoices, follow up enquiries, market the business and maintain a steady pipeline of work.

Vick & Carol Sharma have seen both sides of this problem during their years in the service industry.

Get Charlie was created to help bring those two sides together.

Homeowners Are the Hero of the Get Charlie Story

At Get Charlie, the customer should not have to become an expert in every trade simply to maintain their home.

Homeowners want something much simpler: Confidence. Convenience. Fair value. Reliable service.

That is why Get Charlie is being developed as a home helper, not simply another online directory.

Customers can access a growing range of property and home maintenance services through one platform.

Whether someone needs a handyman, plumber, electrician, lawn mowing, carpet cleaning, window cleaning, house washing, painting, appliance repair, pest control or another property service, the objective is straightforward:

Make getting help around the home easier.

And when a customer is not even sure which service they need, Get Charlie's Concierge approach is designed to provide a helping hand.

Behind the technology are real people.

That distinction matters to Vick & Carol Sharma.

Technology should make life easier, but it should not eliminate genuine human care.

The Tradie Is a Hero Too

There is another hero in the Get Charlie story: the independent service provider.

Vick & Carol Sharma have worked alongside tradespeople, contractors, employees and small-business operators for decades.

They understand that many highly skilled people want to operate their own businesses.

But traditional business expansion can be expensive.

Not everyone wants — or is able — to purchase a franchise, borrow substantial amounts of money or carry significant business debt/risks for years.

Traditional franchise models can provide valuable systems and brand support, but they are not the right solution for everyone.

Vick & Carol Sharma wanted to explore another path.

The question became:

Could independent tradespeople receive business support, technology, customer opportunities and guidance without having to give up their independence or take on a traditional franchise structure?

That question helped shape the Get Charlie Business Club.

A Leaner Model for Independent Tradies

Get Charlie is not a franchise.

The concept is designed around independent businesses retaining their identity and independence while gaining access to Get Charlie's platform and support infrastructure.

The philosophy is simple: Help good tradespeople spend more time doing what they are good at.

A plumber should be able to concentrate on plumbing.

An electrician should be able to concentrate on electrical work.

A handyman should be able to concentrate on helping customers.

Get Charlie aims to support members with areas such as customer enquiries, business systems, technology, operational guidance, mentoring and business development.

Vick & Carol Sharma believe a leaner structure can benefit both sides of the marketplace.

When independent service businesses can control unnecessary overheads, they have a better opportunity to build sustainable businesses.

And sustainable local businesses can ultimately create better outcomes for customers.

But There Is a High Bar to Join Get Charlie

Lower barriers to business overhead do not mean lower standards.

In fact, Vick & Carol Sharma believe the opposite is necessary.

Get Charlie is intended to be selective about the people who represent its service community.

Applicants must meet relevant criteria before being accepted into Get Charlie Business Club.

Depending on their service category, this can include demonstrated experience or qualifications, appropriate insurance, identification and business verification, compliance requirements and a commitment to professional conduct.

Why?

Because a marketplace is only as strong as the people delivering the service.

Get Charlie wants professionals who understand that being technically capable is only part of delivering an excellent customer experience.

Communication matters.

Punctuality matters.

Respecting someone's property matters.

Professionalism matters.

And standing behind your work matters.

Get Charlie is not about building the biggest possible database of tradies. It is about building the right community of service professionals.

People Before Technology

Get Charlie uses technology, but Vick & Carol Sharma do not believe technology should become a barrier between customers and the people helping them.

The purpose of technology should be to simplify the journey.

A customer should be able to identify a service, request assistance and communicate their requirements without navigating unnecessary complexity.

For people who are uncertain about what they need, the Get Charlie Concierge service provides another route.

Tell us the problem.

Let us help work out the next step.

This human element reflects the philosophy Vick & Carol Sharma have developed over nearly three decades in business: Business is ultimately about people helping people.

Loyalty Goes Both Ways

One lesson Vick & Carol Sharma particularly value from their business journey is the importance of loyalty.

During difficult economic periods, businesses quickly discover the value of strong relationships.

Vick & Carol Sharma have experienced the loyalty of customers, team members, contractors, suppliers and business partners through challenging periods.

They have not forgotten it.

That experience has influenced the culture they want to develop around Get Charlie.

The goal is not simply to process as many transactions as possible.

The bigger vision is to create a community where good customers can find good service providers — and where good service providers can build sustainable independent businesses.

When both sides benefit, relationships can last much longer than a single transaction.

Local Businesses Supporting Local Communities

Get Charlie also believes there is value in connecting customers with suitable professionals operating closer to them.

A strong local service network can potentially mean shorter travel distances, stronger community relationships and more efficient service delivery.

For a small independent tradie, spending less time driving across a city can mean more productive hours.

For customers, having capable professionals operating locally can improve convenience and responsiveness.

For communities, supporting independent local businesses helps keep skills, employment and economic activity closer to home.

It is a simple concept, but an important one: Local customers supporting local businesses.

From Auckland to a Growing New Zealand Network

Get Charlie is Auckland based, drawing on the experience and networks Vick & Carol Sharma have developed through Service King since 1998.

But the ambition reaches beyond Auckland.

The Get Charlie platform already presents services across multiple New Zealand centers, while applications for its Business Club are open nationally.

Expansion, however, is not simply about putting dots on a map.

Vick & Carol Sharma believe sustainable growth requires the right people in the right locations.

That means building service capability carefully, maintaining standards and growing where Get Charlie can create genuine value for customers and members.

The objective is not growth at any cost.

It is sustainable growth built on trust.

Why Get Charlie Is Different

There are already websites where customers can search for tradespeople.

There are already lead-generation businesses.

There are already franchises.

So why create Get Charlie?

Because Vick & Carol Sharma believe there is room for a model that brings several important ideas together.

For homeowners, Get Charlie aims to provide convenience, trusted service options, human assistance and access to multiple home services through one relationship.

For independent tradespeople and service providers, Get Charlie aims to provide business support, customer opportunities, technology and a professional community without requiring them to become a traditional franchisee.

And behind the platform is something technology cannot manufacture overnight: More than 27 years of practical service-industry experience.

Vick & Carol Sharma have experienced growth, recessions, uncertainty, mistakes, successes and changing customer expectations.

Get Charlie is being built from those lessons.

A Simple Vision for the Future

Vick & Carol Sharma's vision for Get Charlie can be summarized simply:

Make life easier for homeowners. Help good independent tradies build better businesses.

That means continuing to improve technology without losing the human touch.

It means keeping the operating model lean.

It means setting high standards for service providers.

It means listening to customers.

It means supporting independent businesses rather than trying to control them.

And above all, it means recognizing that long-term businesses are built on trust.

Get Charlie may be a relatively new name in New Zealand's home services market, but the experience behind it has been developing since 1998.

For Vick & Carol Sharma, Get Charlie represents the next chapter of that journey.

A chapter built around the lessons of the past 27 years — and a belief that the future of home services can be simpler, more personal, more local and more sustainable.

Need a Helping Hand Around Your Home?

Whether you know exactly what service you need or simply have a problem that needs solving, Get Charlie is here to help connect you with the right solution.

Explore Get Charlie's growing range of home and property services, or use the Concierge option when you're not sure where to start.

Are You an Independent Tradie or Service Professional?

If you take pride in your work, value your independence and want to build a stronger business without buying a traditional franchise, you can also explore the Get 

Charlie Business Club.

Entry criteria apply because Get Charlie believes customers deserve high standards — and great tradespeople deserve to work alongside other professionals who share them.

Get Charlie — helping New Zealand homeowners and independent service professionals move forward together.

 

Frequently Asked Questions About Get Charlie

What is Get Charlie?
Get Charlie is a New Zealand-based home-services platform founded by Vick & Carol Sharma. Drawing on more than 27 years of service-industry experience, Get Charlie helps homeowners access trusted home and property services while supporting independent tradespeople and service professionals through a lean business model.

Is Get Charlie a franchise?
No. Get Charlie Business Club is not a traditional franchise model. Members remain independent businesses while accessing Get Charlie’s technology, customer opportunities, business support and wider service network. The model is designed for capable independent operators who want to grow without taking on the cost and long-term commitments commonly associated with purchasing a franchise.

How does Get Charlie vet service providers?
Get Charlie maintains a high entry standard for incoming Business Club members. Depending on the service provided, applicants may be required to demonstrate relevant experience or qualifications, insurance, business and identity verification, compliance requirements and professional standards. Acceptance is subject to Get Charlie’s assessment and suitability criteria.

What home services does Get Charlie provide?
Get Charlie connects customers with a growing range of home and property services, including handyman services, plumbing, electrical work, lawn mowing, cleaning, painting, appliance repairs, heat-pump servicing and other property-maintenance services. Service availability may vary by location.

What is the Get Charlie Concierge service?
Get Charlie Concierge is designed for customers who know they have a problem but may not know which type of tradesperson or service they need. Rather than leaving the customer to work everything out themselves, Get Charlie provides a human helping hand to understand the request and help identify an appropriate next step. This is members only exclusive service.

Who founded Get Charlie?
Get Charlie was founded by Vick Sharma and Carol Sharma, who have more than 27 years of experience in New Zealand’s service industry. Their experience operating through economic cycles, the Global Financial Crisis, COVID-19 and changing market conditions contributed to their philosophy of building a lean, resilient and people-focused business.

Why did Vick & Carol Sharma create Get Charlie?
After decades of working with customers, employees, contractors and independent service providers, Vick & Carol Sharma saw an opportunity to create a different model. Their vision is to make home maintenance easier for customers while giving quality independent tradespeople access to business support and opportunities without requiring them to purchase a traditional franchise.

Where is Get Charlie available?
Get Charlie is based in Auckland and is developing its service network across New Zealand. Expansion is based on finding suitable service professionals who meet Get Charlie’s standards rather than simply adding large numbers of providers. Some services are available in north and south Island