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The power to change: A small business owner tests the VW ID. Buzz Cargo electric van  

[Sponsored] How can the VW ID. Buzz Cargo all-electric van change how you run your business? A CommBank small business customer puts it to the test.

By Dilvin Yasa

  • A rugby injury sparked Nicholas van der Wel’s unlikely path to founding The Casing Boutique: supplier of sausage casings and premium ingredients.
  • With his fuel costs hitting $30,000 a year, Nicholas put the Volkswagen ID Buzz Cargo electric van to the test.
  • From city-friendly dimensions to plenty of cargo space and the unexpected bonus of reclaimed downtime at the charging station, the wins from switching to the VW electric van were clear for Nicholas. 

If you’d told Nicholas van der Wel that a rugby injury would kickstart his business career, he probably wouldn’t have believed you. But a torn ACL and six months of forced downtime formed the curious foundations of The Casing Boutique, now a thriving supplier of natural and synthetic sausage casings, sausage-making equipment and premium ingredients to chefs and butchers. 

Finding your feet

What started as an online hustle selling animal byproducts from his New Zealand-based family business and earning what Nicholas says was, “About $1000 a month – if I was lucky,” quickly turned into something bigger.

Buoyed by growing interest across the Tasman, he made the move to Sydney where he used a university cash-flow model to secure a bank loan and buy a warehouse in Marrickville. A risk, he admits, for someone who had no idea where the suburb actually was but one that ultimately paid off as it quietly connected him to a loyal, food-obsessed customer base.

“I didn’t realise how multicultural the neighbourhood was so I’d have all these Greeks and Italians popping in to tell me how excited they were that I was here,” he says. “It definitely helped establish the business.”

Staying real in a corporate world

After 15 years of growing the business by “cold calling and door knocking on restaurant and butchershop doors” and a post-pandemic move of The Casing Boutique’s facilities to Newcastle, Nicholas is busier than ever.

The challenges? Competing with larger companies who dominate supermarket shelves, along with the usual issues like staffing and cash flow that every small business owner faces. But if there’s one thing Nicholas is adamant about, it’s the importance of staying true to the “family owned and operated” ethos. “There’s value in not trying to corporatise everything. People connect with something real.”

Nicholas remains on the road, only now he splits his time between sourcing niche products globally and maintaining close relationships with clients. It’s an essential part of what makes The Casing Boutique successful, he says. “You don’t want customers to see you as just another company. If they can put a face to the products they’re buying, it holds you in good stead for the future.”

Meeting the Volkswagen ID. Buzz Cargo

That same practicality is what led him to trial the Volkswagen ID. Buzz Cargo van. With fuel costs soaring, the numbers were hard to ignore with a business that demands plenty of time on the road. “We were spending about $30,000 a year on fuel,” he says. “When you look at what you can save, it starts to make sense pretty quickly.”

Of course, it isn’t only about fuel. The ID. Buzz Cargo is built for business, offering up to 3.9m³ of cargo volume (the rear load fits two Euro pallets with ease), an ergonomic driver’s seat, wide-opening sliding doors and a compact exterior to keep it city streets-friendly.

Keeping an eye on the battery is something that Nicholas admits took “a little adjustment” but he adds that the electric trial has been eye-opening, not only financially but operationally. “Rather than eating my lunch at my desk, I find I’m now taking my laptop to the charging station so I can open up the back door and answer emails. In a weird way, it’s given me some time back.”

So, would Nicholas make the permanent switch to the VW ID. Buzz Cargo? Almost certainly. “As long as the price point stacks up, I’d definitely consider it,” he says. “The electric VW has worked harder for less, and it delivers reliable performance without being impacted by the rising cost of fuel.” For a business built on adaptability, it’s a next step that feels like the perfect fit.

Plus, the van happens to look great, too. “I love the blend of retro-inspired charm and modern, clean design,” says Nicholas. “It has a unique personality that helps our business stand out from the rest.”

Visit volkswagen.com.au to learn more about the VW ID. Buzz Cargo.

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Published: 24 April 2026

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Information correct as of 20 April 2026. The VW ID. Buzz Cargo was provided for free to the individual for 29 days via an affiliate partnership with Volkswagen for a paid honest review. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are solely those of the individual and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position The Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA). CBA makes no warranties or representations regarding the quality, accuracy, merchantability or fitness for purpose of the goods or services available from third parties. This page contains links that will bring you to a third party website, owned and operated by an independent party (“3rd Party Website”). Any link you make to or from the 3rd Party Website will be at your own risk. Any use of the 3rd Party Website will be subject to and any information you provide will be governed by the terms of the 3rd Party Website, including those relating to confidentiality, data privacy and security. CBA does not endorse or approve and makes no warranties, representations or undertakings relating to the content of the 3rd Party Website. CBA disclaims liability for any loss, damage and any other consequence resulting directly or indirectly from or relating to your access to the 3rd Party Website or any information that you may provide or any transaction conducted on or via the 3rd Party Website or the failure of any information, goods or services posted or offered at the 3rd Party Website or any error, omission or misrepresentation on the 3rd Party Website or any computer virus arising from or system failure associated with the 3rd Party Website.

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