Executive Report:

Leave it to Beaver

Celebrating 30 years this March, Beaver Tool Hire (Chichester) enjoys an enviable reputation in West Sussex and Hampshire, yet still manages to maintain a strong sense of fun.

To say that the principal Beaver Tool Hire depot, which backs onto the main A27 serving Sussex and Hampshire, has become a local Chichester landmark over the past 30 years is something of an understatement. Regular drivers along that road have become accustomed to seeing an ever-changing array of entertaining displays on the roof of the building. These have included a cage stunt inspired by David Blaine; a series of wheelbarrows, painted red and welded together in formation to symbolise the Red Arrows’ Display Team at the nearby Goodwood Festival of Speed (the tagline: ‘The Red Barrows Display Team’) and a giant ‘Peter Snow-style’ General Election ‘Swing-O-Meter’, also featuring Beaver’s celebrated barrows. Designed as much to amuse Beaver’s staff and customers as to attract business, the displays demonstrate the company’s determination to maintain its strong local standing, but with a sense of fun attached.

Indeed, when founder Stamford Stoddard explains his reasons for getting involved in a hire business 30 years ago, he says that he “thought it might be a bit of fun”. As a former Weights and Measures Inspector, Stamford and his assistant Robert Norton were friends with Robin Davidson, who was working for the then recently formed Ashtead Plant Hire. The three discussed the potential for a further local independent hire company and Robert went to work with Robin Davidson in Isleworth for nine months to gain valuable experience of the industry. “Both Robert and I are quite practical men, but were looking for an enjoyable venture as well,” says Stamford.

Following recommendations from Robin Davidson on equipment investment, Stamford and Robert opened the first Beaver Tool Hire (Chichester) Ltd depot as partners in 1978, in St. James Road.
“At that point I really hadn’t thought beyond paying the mortgage each month,” says Stamford. “It was a genuine seat-of-the-pants affair.” With family loans and encouragement topping up personal investments, they embarked on their exciting new venture. Within just a few months it was clear that the two men had made the right decision. The original plan was for the company to turnover £12,000 in the first year; it achieved this goal within a matter four months. In November 1978, Stamford and Robert appointed their first employee and the business began to develop.

Four depot network

The ensuing 20 years saw Beaver grow steadily. In January 1984, a second depot was opened just over the Hampshire border in Denmead, Waterlooville. Robert managed the new branch whilst Stamford remained in Chichester. This also grew at a steady rate, and moved to a larger site in 2003. Meanwhile, in 1986, with the Chichester business expanding rapidly, the flagship branch moved to Oving Road, with the company building larger premises on the site where their Chichester depot now exists. In 1992, Beaver opened a third depot in Petersfield, followed in 1998 by a fourth in Portsmouth.

When you ask Stamford why he thinks the company has enjoyed such a long history of success, his answer comes without hesitation: “Consistently good and friendly service from a great team with extensive knowledge of the industry. We have a very enviable reputation in the local area, and it remains so because our customers know we have some of the best staff in the business.

“We have a proven path for our employees – many of our staff, including some depot managers, were initially employed as drivers and worked from the ground up, so they appreciate all aspects of the business. Numerous employees, including General Manager John Baggott, have been with us for 20 years and more. We have incredibly enthusiastic, hands-on managers and we are very thankful for that.” The depot management team comprises Rick Knight at Chichester, Tony Criddle at Portsmouth, Andy Neal at Waterlooville and Mark Turner at Petersfield. Stamford also singles out the company’s workshop team – General Workshop Manager Rick Ramsden and Chichester Workshop Manager Colin Cobden – as deserving of praise. Both are long-standing employees, Rick having worked for Beaver for 20 years and Colin for 18 years. “These guys are an absolutely key part of our success. They can fix literally anything – they have even made suggestions to our suppliers on improvements that could be made to the kit, which have then been incorporated into their designs. We do not buy any new equipment without it first having undergone a thorough spanner inspection by Rick and Colin. We are so lucky to have them.”

Reacting to changing demands

The longevity of Beaver is all the more impressive when you look at how much the hire business and its demands have changed over the last 30 years. Whilst its core business has remained largely the same – professional builders, handymen and gardeners – the typical Beaver Tool Hire customer could now want anything from an access tower to a turf cutter. Says Stamford: “The rise of the cheap Far Eastern imports has changed the spectrum completely. I marvel now when I look back and see how many cordless drills and small angle grinders we used to hire out, for example. We don’t intend becoming a plant hire company but we do have to adapt our fleet and invest in some heavier kit to accommodate demand.”

Consequently, Beaver now offers a comprehensive list of tools, from dehumidifers and cleaning equipment to pumps and lifting equipment. The company lists its most popular current hire items as access towers and ladders, Kango hammers and vibrating plate compactors. Not surprisingly, it remains well known for its wheelbarrows and sells them alongside items such as work attire, drill bits, blades and safety equipment.

Beaver’s most recent investment is the addition of an Ammann Yanmar VS08 ‘micro’ excavator. This one tonne machine, which has extendable tracks, is just 680mm wide and offers 100mm height adjustment for bank work. The machine has already been out on hire for three weeks out of the four that it has been in action, mainly to private customers, and Stamford is already looking at purchasing a second one.

“Potential to do even more”

2008 could well be another significant turning point in the company’s 30 year history. In 2007, by mutual agreement, Robert Norton left Beaver, having been bought out by Stamford. His choice of new business partner is Neil Johnson, Stamford’s stepson and a previous partner of a communications installation company based in Bognor and London. Now in place as Director, Neil sees Beaver as a “fantastic company with a fierce local reputation, but with the potential to do even more.”

His remit is to invest further in the Beaver brand, modernise its image and raise its profile, and it is a task he and Stamford both look forward to. A brand new company brochure is currently being produced and the two men are looking closely at further investments. “Neil has terrific business acumen and I think that will stand us in good stead for the future,” says Stamford.

In the meantime, there is a 30th Anniversary party to be planned and, no doubt, another rooftop display on the way. “Several hire companies, both national and independent, have come and gone from this area since we started out,” says Stamford, “but we are still here and that’s down to my staff and the service we give. I think that’s something for all of us to celebrate.” •

W www.beavertoolhire.co.uk

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