Executive Hire News › Archives › December 2009 › Executive Report : Taking our industry's pulse
Executive Report : Taking our industry's pulse
This month, more independent hirers tell us why visiting the Executive Hire Show is so important.
Andy Martin, MD, Martin Plant Hire
"Attending the Show is of great value. You can speak to many of the major manufacturers in one place and get up to speed with the latest product developments. You also bump into other hirers and hear snippets of information about what’s going on in our industry.
The market remains tough, but I am more positive than I was a few months ago. I am hearing of more construction projects in the pipeline, and it is a case of waiting until they are ready to proceed. It is therefore vital to be prepared with an up to date fleet, and by visiting the Show you find out what equipment to buy."
I am going to the Show to keep informed about the latest products and industry trends, ready for the upturn.
Ian Truby, Proprietor, Truby Tool Hire, Co Durham
"I’ll definitely be going to the Show. I want to see the latest gardening and grounds care machinery, a niche that has proved very successful for us. Like other hirers, we scaled down our investment in new equipment this year, but we now need to see what we should add to the fleet.
We have recently noticed increased demand for equipment from contractors working for utilities, and I’ll be looking out for new road saws, cut-off saws, CAT detectors and surveying tools.
Visiting an exhibition, you can see everything that’s new under one roof, and I like being able to examine equipment closely, which you cannot do from a brochure a local sales rep might give you."
I am going to the Show because I can see new products and inspect them closely.
Thomas Smith, Director, Smiths Equipment Hire, Blackpool
"The market is a lot more positive now than it was earlier in the year. House prices have been rising, and people who were renting properties are now buying. More building sites are re-opening - so forget all the doom and gloom on the television. There comes a time when you have to bite the bullet and move forward, otherwise you are going backwards.
We bought a lot of new kit as a result of our visit to last year’s Show, including Husqvarna’s Cut-n-Break wall cutter, and the HAVi vibration meter from Real Edge. I was also impressed by the Power Tower Nano on the Red Band UK stand, and I will be checking to see what’s new for 2010. I am always looking for something that our customers will appreciate, and which will set us apart from the competition."
I am going to the Show to discover new ideas and opportunities.
Tony Mather, Operations Director, Mather & Stuart, Wigan
"Without question, the last 12 months have been difficult, as they have been for other hirers. However, in the last six weeks we have seen a considerable upturn in business levels, with demand for our generators and related equipment from housebuilders and motorway maintenance contractors.
I’ll definitely be going to the Show in February. It’s easy to get to, and it will be interesting to talk to other hirers to see how they are faring. I’ll be looking out for the latest products, and I’ll touch base with our software supplier, inspHire, to check out its new developments."
I am going to the Show to see the latest products for hire.
Carl Garside, Manager, Wright Hire, Marple, Cheshire
"Our MD and Director, Terry and Tony Wright, have attended the previous three Executive Hire Shows and are loyal supporters of the event. I am really looking forward to visiting the 2010 Show with them.
There are a number of exhibitor’s stands that we will definitely make a point of visiting including, JCB and Belle, as well as Red Band, who supplied us with a Power Tower following this year’s Show. As a company, we think it is vital that exhibitors do their utmost to make their stands welcoming, and that they offer deals that are simply too good to refuse. "
I am going to the Show to look at equipment to replace some of the existing machinery in our hire fleet.
Richard Johnson, General Manager, Frank Key Plant & Tool Hire, Nottingham
"I visited the Show for the first time this year and I’ll definitely be going again in February. It was great to see so many of our established suppliers in one place, as well as names that were new to me. Resulting from my visit we bought folding indoor scaffolds from Euro Towers, Imer radial tile saws, Stihl tools from Seddons, and air conditioning equipment from Scott Brothers.
Although the market is very competitive, we have remained very busy this year supplying equipment right across the board, from aluminium towers to mini excavators. We have just renewed our fleet of 14 Bobcat minis, and we try to ensure all our machines are no more than two years old."
I’m going to the Show to look at new equipment, and I want to see more genuinely unmissable, Show-only deals from exhibitors.
Vanessa King with Alastair North, Directors, KJN Services, Bicester
"When we visited the Show this year, I attended a very useful training seminar organised by Higher Concept Software on its Syrinx system, which we have used since 2006. Learning about the program’s additional functions has helped us win more business.
We offer a wide range of tools and plant, and we also run a plumbers merchant operation on our 14,500ft2 site. This works well, as builders can buy pipework and other materials, as well as hiring the equipment they need, from a single source. We also provide IPAF and PASMA training courses, which are very popular, and have recently opened a dedicated training facility. When we attend the Show again in February, we will look closely at powered access machines, low-level access products and lifting equipment that we could add to the fleet, as this is a good hire market: contractors know they have to comply with Health & Safety regulations, and need appropriate equipment."
I am going to the Show to see what’s new and to put faces to the names of the suppliers we deal with.
Brian Light, MD, Light Hire
"We are a specialist access platform hirer serving small to medium sized enterprises in the south west of England from our depots in Exeter and Barnstaple. We operate a fleet of 110 machines, the vast majority are available from Exeter. In the early months of the year, there was little or no business confidence. However, since about April, there has been a slow, but gradual, improvement as confidence has returned.
In April, having undertaken a thorough analysis of our fleet utilisation, we sold machines that were under-performing and used the proceeds to invest in a new £60,000 23m working height Hinowa 23.12 Light-Lift tracked access platform from Access Platform Sales. This specialist platform has allowed us to target new markets like arboricultural and property maintenance.
We are also evaluating the low-level access market and, having noticed that several suppliers of this type of equipment are exhibiting at the Executive Hire Show in February, we will be visiting the Show again in order to find out more."
I am going to the Show to see the latest low-level access products.
Simon Mason, Assistant Manager, Eagle Plant Hire, Newton Abbot
"We are one of 16 Eagle Plant branches across the south west of England, chiefly supplying machines like Takeuchi mini excavators and Terex Benford dumpers up to 7.5 tonne. We also have a fleet of more than 200 Thal portable toilets that are hired to construction industry customers, and we supply a growing range of tools and equipment.
Visiting the Show is even more important nowadays, because fewer sales reps take the trouble to visit us to tell us about new products.
Some suppliers even seem to be cutting back on the number of catalogues they mail out. At the exhibition, you can see what’s new from suppliers and ask them technical questions face to face."
I am going to the Show because it is an excellent showcase for suppliers to highlight their products to hirers.
Colin Tall, MD, Hire4Lower, Lambeth
"As well as finding out about the latest products, the Show is a great way of meeting up with friends in the industry and talking to other hirers. If you work for a national company, it’s easier to make contact with colleagues in other areas to discuss equipment trends and industry issues, but independents can be isolated. The exhibition enables you to keep in touch and talk to people face to face.
As well as hire, we are very pro-active about selling the consumables, accessories and PPE our customers need to get jobs done efficiently and safely. We always have a good look round at the Show for new products that will present us with new sales opportunities as a complement to hire."
I am going to the Show to take advantage of the great networking opportunities.
Ralph Wilcox, MD, Oaks Plant Hire, Sevenoaks
"Business is unpredictable. A month ago demand went through the roof. Then it quietened down, possibly because people are wondering what might happen after the general election regarding public spending and taxation.
However, you have to remain positive. We do everything to pull in hire business and when a customer asks you whether you have something, the answer has to be yes. I will be going to the Show to see the latest products, and our Workshop Manager, Bill Roose, will also go, to talk to suppliers about product features and to offer suggestions such as how to make equipment easier to service."
I am going to the Show to find products and services to target new niche markets.
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