Executive Hire News › Archives › January/February 2009 › Executive Report : Ready for Ricoh action

Executive Report : Ready for Ricoh action

In our third article in the run-up to the event, we speak to more hirers far and wide who will be sure not to miss the Executive Hire Show.

Iain Thomson, Partner, Haddington Hire Centre, East Lothian
"I allocate an entire day out of my schedule to go to the Show, so I can see everything that is new for our industry. It’s easy to get to the Ricoh Arena by flying direct from Edinburgh to Birmingham and then taking the train to Coventry. I have attended both previous Shows, and they have been invaluable in highlighting equipment to enhance our fleet.
We chiefly serve small builders and local tradesmen, supplying compact plant like JCB minis, Thwaites dumpers, Youngman’s Boss towers, and power tools from companies like Hilti, DeWalt and Makita, and it will be great to catch up with these companies at the Show. "

John Cranston, Partner, Bathgate Hire Centre, West Lothian
"I will be visiting the Show for the first time, and I’m really looking forward to it. My wife and I will drive down on the Tuesday evening to attend the exhibition the next day, then we’ll stay in Birmingham to go back to the Show on Thursday before driving back in the afternoon.
I’ll make a particular point of calling in at the Turner Access stand because I am very interested in the company’s new Beta tower system (also one of the ‘finalists’ in the New Product Zone). We also want to enrich our fleet of breakers and heavy-duty electric tools, mini excavators up to 2.5 tonne, and concreting equipment like power floats and pokers. I’ll check out the Indespension stand, as we are a local dealer and authorised repair agent, and we have the company’s trailers in the hire fleet.
Although we have noticed a contraction in some areas of business, such as with local authorities, we are this year looking to widen the geographical area we cover. We believe we service our local customer base well and we can expand our operation into other parts of the region. "

Tony Marley, Managing Director, Marley Hire, Portadown, Co. Armagh
"When I was at the Show last year, it amazed me when I overheard one visitor say they would get round the hall in an hour or so. I arrived when the exhibition opened, and I was still there at 5.30pm! Some people just don’t make the most of their attendance. They should spend time and ask companies’ staff specifically what new products they have launched, or which are in the pipeline, and ask questions to find out what they need to know.
For their part, exhibitors should make sure they devote as much attention to independent hirers as they do to the national groups. I also think they should have more video displays showing equipment working, so visitors can spend time productively if they are waiting to see busy staff. I’ll certainly be looking closely at all the stands. "

John Morrissey, Managing Director, Xpert Hire & Sales, Naas, Co. Kildare
"I will be travelling over to the Show this year with three friends who all own and operate large independent hire centre in the Republic of Ireland. They are namely Clem Jacob of Clem Jacob Hire & Sales in Waterford, Colm Cooney of Clare Hire & Sales in Ennis, and Colin Byrne of C.B. Tool Hire & Sales in Cork. I think it’s a great idea to travel as a group. It can only be a good thing to combine our experience and knowledge of products when deciding on the equipment to add to our fleets. We will all travel over on Wednesday and attend the Show for the full day on Thursday.
I opened Xpert Hire & Sales last March, having previously worked in the industry for 16 years. When I visited the Show last year, we were in full set-up mode. We purchased a lot of equipment from exhibitors like the Hire Supply Company and Pramac Generators. We also bought floor prep machines from HTC Floor Systems and became the first hire company in Ireland to offer a complete professional floor system. Floor care is a promising new market and you can achieve a sensible rate. We will be looking at more powered access equipment this year and my shopping list also includes safety equipment and PPE."

Michael Cullen, Partner, M&A Hire Services, Whitehaven, Cumbria
"As a relatively young company, we are actively looking for new ideas, initiatives and products to help grow our business, and what better place to find them than at the hire industry's dedicated Show? We have established some very loyal accounts in our local area and we are always targeting new business. Looking at the 2009 Show floor plan, many of our industry's leading suppliers will be there. It will be good to meet exhibitors and put a face to the names of people we talk to on the phone regularly."

Tony Cosgrove, Managing Director, Nortech Services, Hull
"This will be the third Executive Hire Show I have attended. The previous two were very impressive. Far fewer sales personnel from the major power tool manufacturers come to visit us nowadays, so if we want to find innovative products to meet customer demand, we have to attend the Show and look first hand. It is amazing what we find out by going on to exhibitors’ stands and seeing new products that we have not been made aware of previously.
The fact that the Show is purely aimed at hirers means that all the stands are relevant, and the venue is impressive and easy to get around. We normally travel there and back in one long and worthwhile day so our time away from work is kept to a minimum. I have registered for the Show, along with our Hire Controller, and we will definitely be looking at all the power tool manufacturers and other exhibitors such as Pop-Up Products."

Paul Reid, Partner, Hire & Buy, Hoylake
"It is easy to make excuses not to take a day out of the schedule and visit the Show, but I feel that if we do not use it, we could lose it! The Show is a once a year opportunity to keep up to date with developments in the industry and it is surprising how many people you bump into that you know in and around the hall.
When I visit a Show, I always make a point of going prepared with exactly what I am looking for, as well as seeking out anything new that will appeal to our customers. A lot of thought has obviously been put into the exhibition, with hirers’ needs specifically in mind, and I have found the previous two events much more interesting than some other, more general exhibitions. I will definitely be attending!"

Colin Hughes, Depot Manager, Scanlan's Plant Hire, Whitchurch
"I am really looking forward to visiting the Show. A motorbike accident prevented me from attending last year, but two colleagues from one of our other depots visited, and had a thoroughly worthwhile day. For me, the key to a good exhibition is new equipment and I will be using my day to look out for the latest in small tools. Any opportunity to add something to our hire fleet that our competitors do not have will give us a chance to win new business. Only by taking time out to go to the Show can you do this, and it gives you quality time with existing suppliers."

Matt Dormer, Owner, Dormer Plant Hire, Redditch
"I visited the 2007 and 2008 Shows and will be attending this year. The exhibition is such a valuable source of information on the latest products and services from major suppliers. As the event is specifically for hirers, there are no end users clogging up the stands, unlike some other events, so you can get to see people and do business quickly.
At last year’s Show I bought some surface preparation equipment from SPE, which has proved very popular, and a Camon turf cutter. This year, I will be looking at compact powered access equipment, a market that is still being driven by the Work at Height Regulations, as well as calling in at other key suppliers such as Ammann Equipment, Thwaites and Husqvarna. We recently added Husqvarna’s K750 with the OilGuard alert system to the fleet, and it has saved a staggering amount of hassle and costs for customers."

Paul Rowe (right), MD of Rent-A-Tool, Norwich, and Branch Manager David Emery
"I went to last year’s Show and spent a full day there, with my business partner Marcus Pearcey. Although I have many years’ hire experience, having worked with Jewson and A-Plant before establishing Rent-A-Tool in December 2006, Marcus comes from a different background, so he was able to get to know all the major suppliers and products during our visit.
We will hire out anything that we can find a market for. As well as tools and equipment, we hire out items ranging from bouncy castles to roof boxes. Business has been very good since we started, and we opened a second depot in December 2007 on the south west side of Norwich. We’ll be going to the Show to see what we might add to our fleet, and to see some old faces."

Craig (right) and Guy Brenchley, Directors, Knight & Brenchley Tool Hire Services, Swansea
"We have visited the two previous Shows. The central location enables us to get there and back in one day, which minimises any disruption caused by two of us being away from the depot. Like all hirers, we are constantly looking out for new ideas. The fact there is a dedicated stand to showcase new products this year is great.
We spent money with several exhibitors at the 2008 Show, including the Hire Supply Company and Karcher. One product that particularly caught our eye was the Rippa blade from DTAS and we have been dealing with the company since. Looking at the exhibitor floor plan, there are several companies that we will definitely be visiting, one of which is Higher Concept Software, as we are just in the process of going live with their Syrinx software. Basically, we’ll cram as much into the day as we possibly can."

Tim Smith, Managing Director, Brandon Hire
"The Hire Show signals the start of another year where looking forward, developing new opportunities and alliances will be more important than ever. To support this, the Show has become the event of the year.
Selecting the right equipment, evaluating innovations, keeping up to date with the latest developments or simply saying 'thank you' are just some of the benefits of the Show. However, as we move into more uncertain times, a more important note is becoming clear to me. Good suppliers will help drive fresh ideas and success in the industry. This is their showcase.
The Show provides the opportunity for hire companies to show their appreciation to loyal suppliers for their past support and develop new opportunities for the future. Now more than ever the industry should appreciate those companies that contribute to its success. The Show does this under one roof and that's why I'll be there."

Paul and Mandy Allsop, MD and Company Secretary, Allplant Hire, Dunstable
"We visited the Show last year and will go again in February. We founded Allplant at the end of 2007, as a separate activity to our other business, Plantmasters, which was established ten years ago as a hire business but gradually became more focused on equipment repair and servicing to meet demand. However, a growing number of customer enquiries has led us to go back into hire once more.
The Show enables us to see all the new products available and to make contact with our suppliers, such as Husqvarna, Fairport, Stihl, Alto Towers and inspHire. Having been in the industry for 20 years, I invariably bump into a lot of old faces and it is a great opportunity to keep in touch."

Kevin Lewis (left), Regional Account Manager, with Jeff Hudson, Managing Director, Fairview Lifting Gear Services, Rainham, Essex
"We are specialist hirers of lifting, moving and materials handling equipment and, looking through the exhibitors list on the Show web site, there will be plenty of relevance to us. We recently bought a Probst Stone Magnet and we’ll be interested to see the company’s other products. Our fleet includes a lot of Tacklestore kit like hoists, jacking equipment and shifting skates, and we must speak to their staff two or three times a week, so it will be great to meet them in person. Imer Direct’s hoists and lifting products are also of interest.
The New Product Zone is a great idea so you can see the latest innovations, and we’ll make a point of visiting it. Having a depot in Liverpool, we are frequent travellers on the M6, so going to the Ricoh Arena poses no difficulties. And it’s great to be able to visit a Show specifically for our industry."

Nicolas Baltazar, Purchasing Director, Kiloutou, France
"I will fly to the UK one evening to spend the following day at the Show. It is always valuable to attend exhibitions. As well as giving the opportunity to see new products, it allows you to get a feel for the current state of the industry, and to detect any emerging trends.
I will obviously be visiting the stands of those manufacturers we already know and deal with, but I will also be interested to make contact with new suppliers that have innovative products. The Show is a great chance to see what is happening in the hire industry. "

Peter Lancken, Managing Director, Kennards Hire, Australia
The Executive Hire Show has aroused interest literally as far as the other side of the globe.
"I will be flying over to attend the Show, along with our National General Manager, Bill Whitehouse, and Allen Besseling, MD of Kennards Lift & Shift. We are spending seven days in Europe, seeing suppliers and industry contacts in the UK and other countries.
As an Australian company, it is important for us to make the effort and visit exhibitions to see developments in overseas markets. Success is based on learning, and we want to find out about the latest products and new technologies. Many of the manufacturers we deal with are based in Europe, so it is great to see so many in one place.
There’s always a buzz about an exhibition. For our industry, the most important things are new equipment and innovation. We’ll see what’s new, bounce some ideas off other people, and enjoy the camaraderie."