When we first encountered Watson Tool Hire, the company occupied a modest, but well-positioned outpost in South Shields. We were delighted when owner Gordon Watson annouced that the company had moved into a much larger and more modern premises in the town. Now he's about to up sticks once again.
It is not unusual for hire businesses to expand outwards, often when an adjacent unit becomes available. Such is the case for Watson Tool Hire, although the company's new site is literally across the road from their current unit. It's no exaggeration to say that Gordon (pictured here with daughter Kiera) and the Watson Hire crew really could handball most of the smaller tools and equipment. The larger items in the fleet would require more effort and mechanised assistance, but you'd still think the moving costs would be relatively minimal otherwise.
The real reason for the move is business expansion, as former musician Gordon explains: "We have been in our new depot for just over three years now, expanding and growing all the time," he says." The new unit is three times the size of the one we are currently in and hopefully we will be moving three to four months’ time."
Meanwhile, a quick butcher's at the current Watson operation reveals that the ' fleet has expanded much since we last met. A larger selection of compact excavators for one, so perhaps the company will grow and diversify again in the new location. More news soon, we hope...