11 November 2008 - EPS Hire Centre, Hebden Bridge

EPS Hire Centre are a single depot independent hirer based in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire.

The company is a well respected family business run by David Fielden with his wife Gillian and son Jason. They have a large and varied hire fleet that includes, tools, equipment, powered access, wood chippers and compact plant. In addition to this, they have a well stocked showroom that attracts a lot of passing trade.

Jason explained "We have visited the first two Executive Hire Shows and found them both very useful as we got a lot done. The 2008 Show has the perfect mix of exhibitors for us as it covered it offered the very range of equipment that we have in our fleet. As well as meeting up with most of our existing suppliers, we actively looked out for anything new on the market. We had not come across Sumner Manufacturing before and now have several of their products in our fleet as a direct result of the Show. We also had a look at the Takeuchi stand and purchased on of their TB235 Mini Diggers a while after the Show. Several of us will definitely be attending the 2009 Show and will be registering soon!"

Lots of interest in EHS 09

I am now several weeks into my visits to encourage hirers to visit EHS 09.

It is great to see that many hirers are still remaining positive despite the prevailing economic conditions and telling me that they are still relatively busy.

It is my job to convince hirers that by giving us one day of their valuable time and coming to the the 09 Show they will reap significant benefits.

The thing that really gets hirers thinking about the Show is when I talk them through the exhibitors on the floor plan which are without doubt, the cream of suppliers to the hire industry. For example, I visited Andara Tools & Plant Hire in Eltham, London earlier this week and spoke to Depot Manager, Paul Grainger. Paul spent some time looking at the floor plan and confirmed that they deal with the majority of our exhibitors and that they are regularly spending money with them. I pointed out to Paul that in one day, he could see them all, view new products, take advantage of special deals, solve problems and queries and catch up with friends from within the industry. Visiting the Show would actually save Paul money and also time in the coming weeks and months as he would be achieve so much in one day!

This is the same for all hirers, so trust us and give us one day of your valuable time and we can promise that you will get a great deal out of your day!

5 November 2008 - O'Neills Tool & Plant Hire, Hanwell, London

O'Neills Tool & Plant Hire are a single depot independent hirer based in West London.

I visited and spoke to Proprietor, Danny Baxter who visited EHS 08 with a colleague. During my visit, there was a steady stream of customers through the depot and it was clear to see that Danny and his team make them very welcome and know them well. Danny explained that they do a lot of business with civil engineers and ground workers and that business is still quite buoyant.

Danny stated that "We enjoyed our visit to EHS 08 and got a lot done in a day, most of our suppliers were there which enabled us to catch up with them. The Ricoh Arena is a great venue and the journey from London was pretty easy. We bumped into lot's of friends and ex colleagues from within the industry, one of whom was Will Leftwich who we spoke to on the WLA Associates stand. Meeting up with other hirers gives you fresh ideas and opinions which can often be used within your own business. We actually placed some orders at the Show and got some good deals which saved us some money. I will definitely be attending EHS 09 and would recommend the event to my fellow hirers."

30 October 2008 - Penrith Tool Hire

Penrith Tool Hire are a single depot independent hirer based in Penrith, Cumbria. They have a very loyal local customer base that includes contractors, DIY customers and many hirers from the agricultural and farming communities.

I visited the depot and spoke to Director and owner, David Taylor who purchased the company from the previous owners in December 2007. David is obviously very passionate about the business and explained that "I have enjoyed the challenge of owning and running my own hire company in the last year despite the long hours and pressure." He is obviously very proud of his team who have helped him to learn the business of hire and all that it entails.

Unfortunately David could not attend EHS 07 due to his workload, although he had pre registered. However, I am pleased to say that David will definitely be attending EHS 09 to look for new equipment to add to their extensive hire fleet. In addition to hire, the company have a well stocked showroom with a vast range of power tools, consumables and PPE which attracts a lot of passing trade. David stated that " I am looking forward to visiting my first hire show and will use the day to keep up to date with what is going on in the industry, meet my existing suppliers and look out for potential new suppliers."

It is great to see new people coming into hire and we look forward to seeing David at EHS 09.

30 October 2008 - M&A Hire Services, Whitehaven, Cumbria

M&A Hire Services are a single depot independent hirer based in Whitehaven, Cumbria.

The company is run by business partners Michael Cullen and Ashley Benson who both worked for a national hirer prior to starting their own business.

Michael explained "Like any new business, we have had to work very hard and be very careful with our money as things developed. We are now making good progress so it makes sense for either Ashley or myself to attend EHS 09. We mainly specialise in small tools and equipment and have added to our fleet to cope with customer demand. Occasionally we get requests for kit that we may not be familiar with, so the opportunity to have a good look around a show will enable us to get an update on what is new."

I spent half an hour talking to Michael and they are a great example of a young enthusiastic hire business that is totally focused on customer service. If hirers can give us one day of their valuable time, they can save money, solve problems and increase opportunities to win new business with new products. It is great that companies like M&A Hire Services can see the potential of EHS 09 and we look forward to welcoming them.

21 October 2008 - Griffiths Hire Shops

Griffiths Hire Shops are an independent hirer with three depots in Oswestry, Whitchurch and Wrexham.

I used to call on the company when I worked for Hilti in the late eighties and early nineties and it was great to see that it has gone from strength to strength.

I visited the company's head office in Oswestry and spoke to Director, Kevin Griffiths who runs the company with his brother Paul. Kevin is clearly very proud of the family business which has a fleet that includes a wide range of tools, equipment, compact plant, powered access and scaffolding.

Kevin visited EHS 08 and told me that he found the Show both enjoyable and informative. He used the day to meet up with many of the company's existing suppliers and to look out for new equipment that would compliment their existing hire fleet. Kevin is intending to visit EHS 09 and is the sort of passionate hirer that the exhibitors will be keen to talk to.

21 October 2008 - Scanlan's Plant Hire

Scanlan's Plant Hire are an independent hirer with three depots in Nantwich, Whitchurch and Crewe.

I visited the Whitchurch depot and was made to feel very welcome by Depot Manager, Colin Hughes. In addition to tool and plant hire, the company provides vehicle hire, skip hire, a mobile concrete service and aggregate sales.

Two of the team from one of Scanlan's other depots attended and enjoyed EHS 08, but unfortunately Colin was unable to attend due to a motorbike accident. Colin has already registered to attend EHS 09 and told me he will use the opportunity to catch up with existing suppliers and look out for new products and initiatives. It was clear to see Colin's passion and enthusiasm for the business and this was confirmed by the fact that he is a proud member of the Executive Hire Club! He has already posted on the forum and told me that he thinks it is great that someone is making an effort to bring the industry together. We look forward to welcoming Colin and his colleagues to EHS 2009.

15 October 2008 - Marchstream Tool Hire

Marchstream Tool Hire are a single depot independent hirer based in Denton, Manchester. In addition to tools, equipment and compact plant, they specialise in welding and threading equipment. I called in and spoke to Director, Joe Hayes who was very positive about the way the company is progressing. Joe told me that the fact they have the welding and threading equipment hire side of the business enables them to attract a much broader customer base.

Joe attended EHS 08 with a colleague and stated that "The venue was great as we did not have to travel all the way to London. During our visit, we caught up with a number of our existing suppliers including Higher Concept Software and Sumner Manufacturing UK which enabled us to spend quality time with them. We also managed to solve a problem as we had recently purchased two second hand mini diggers from another hirer and urgently required some spares. We opened an account with Leach Lewis and the parts were with us within a few days. It was amazing how many hirers we knew that we bumped into during the day. We will definitely be attending the 2009 Show to see what's new and to show our support for the industry."

8 July 2008 - Smiths Equipment Hire, Blackpool

As we have started our campaign to attract hirers to attend EHS 09, it was fitting that one of the first hirers we visited was Smiths Equipment Hire in Blackpool. They were the worthy winners of the first ever EHS Passionate Independent Hirer award.

Director, Thomas Smith told me that the award gave them a real boost as it was great to be recognised for all the hard work and commitment that the entire team at Smiths Equipment Hire put in day in day out. They have used the award in their marketing activities since EHS 08 and have mentioned it on their website and in newsletters.

We look forward to welcoming Passionate Hirers to EHS 09 to the Ricoh Arena on the 11th and 12th February 2009 for our industry’s annual gathering!