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On behalf of the Executive Hire Team, I would like to thank all the Passionate Hirers that took the time to visit the Show. I was amazed how many of the hirers that we had visited in the run up to the event that I bumped into during the course of the two days. We have received some great feedback from both hirers and exhibitors about the event which has given all of the team a real boost. Steve Click here to contact Steve.
26 January 2010 - Bingham Hire Centre, Croydon
I spent around 45 minutes talking to Tony about the state of the industry, the past year and the upcoming Show. We discussed the floor plan and the various exhibitors who will be there launching new products. Tony stated, “I’m not sure which day I will be going to the Show as I am juggling various commitments around. I always like to have a good look around all of the smaller stands as I have found some new niche products and exhibitors that I have never seen before. The recent cold snap has not helped business with the exception of gas sales and heater hire, but we have to look ahead and the Show is the perfect chance to meet other hirers to gauge their opinions on 2010.” It was great to finally meet Tony and we look forward to welcoming him to the Show!
25 January 2010 - Oaks Plant Hire, Sevenoaks
I called in and spoke to Managing Director, Ralph Wilcox who will be attending the Show with his Workshop Manager, Bill Roose. During my visit, we looked at the floor plan for the Show and Ralph was impressed by both the number and diversity of the exhibitors. He commented, “It is great to see that despite the fact that the economy is not great, all of these exhibitors will be there to support us hirers. We are always on the lookout for new products and ideas and Bill and I are looking forward to what will be a long, but hopefully interesting and rewarding day at the Show!” During my travels, it has been great to see that more and more hirers like Oaks Plant Hire view the Show as an event that they cannot afford to miss.
21 January 2010 - Knight & Brenchley Tool Hire, Swansea
Craig has already preregistered for the Show an is intending to visit with his father and brother who are also Directors of the company. Craig commented, “The Show is the best opportunity we have each year to see what is new on the market. We have found new products to add to our hire fleet at all of the previous Executive Hire Shows and hope to do so this year. As well as calling onto the stands of our current suppliers such as the Hire Supply Company and Higher Concept Software, we are always open minded to see what other exhibitors have to offer. Like all hirers, 2009 has been a tough year for us, but we are more positive about the coming year and hope the Show will be a chance for all hirers to look ahead with a bit more optimism.” Craig’s enthusiasm and support for the Show was obvious to see and the continued support of hirers like Knight & Brenchley Tool Hire is what makes the event so worthwhile!
20 January 2010 - Complete Hire Services, Hull
I called in and spoke to Simon who is looking forward to this year’s Executive Hire Show! Simon commented, “We will be visiting the Show with a view to spending money on specific items that we need to add to our hire fleet. In addition to this, we will also take the opportunity to have a good look around all of the exhibitors stands to look for new equipment that will offer us new opportunities. Despite the tough trading conditions that every hirer has faced in the last year, we have remained positive and continued to offer our customers the best products and services in the area!” Whilst I was at the depot, I had a brief word with Peter Houldridge who was busy serving a customer. Peter stated, “We made contact with a number of new suppliers at the 2009 Show including Euro Towers and Dustcontrol. Their products have been very positive additions to our business with strong health and safety benefits.” It is great to visit hirers who are planning to expand their business in 2010 despite the current state of the UK economy. We look forward to seeing Peter and Simon at the Show and know they will find some new products and ideas for their hire fleet!
18 January 2010 - Dromad Hire, Dundalk
I called in and spoke at length to Managing Director, Seamus Byrne who will be visiting the Show along with a colleague. It was clear to see that despite the prevailing economic conditions in Southern Ireland, Seamus is very positive and forward thinking. Seamus gave me a guided tour of the depot and showed me their Fitness4Hire division which hires out health and fitness equipment to members of the public. He commented, “Things have been tough for all hirers in Southern Ireland as there are very few major construction projects going on. We are still busy supplying smaller contractors and DIY’ers and continue to win business due to the levels of service we provide and quality of our hire fleet. As a company, we took a view that we needed to diversify and offer something different to our competitors and our Fitness4Hire division has been a great success!” As further evidence of just how forward thinking the company are, Seamus showed me their newly erected wind turbine that can generate up to 40% of their electricity requirements on a windy day! The wind turbine represents a significant investment which will take around five years to pay for itself, but it is clearly a very positive step for a hirer to take showing commitment to reducing their carbon footprint. We look forward to welcoming Seamus and his colleague to the Show and hope they accept our invitation to the Executive Hire Party!
11 January 2010 - Ash Hire / Ash Plant Hire, Lowton, Warrington
I called in and spoke to Director, Ashley Chilton about EHS 2010. Since I visited Ash Hire in the run up to last year’s Show, they have acquired A&B Plant Hire with whom they shared a yard. Ashley pointed out, “In addition to the handling and lifting products that we previously offered, we now have a fleet of operated and non operated plant. We have a number of mini diggers, rollers and dumpers in the fleet along with telehandlers and JCB backhoe loaders that we hire out with or without an operator. I visited last year’s Executive Hire Show and was very impressed with what I saw under one roof. In addition to visiting the Show, I also attended the Executive Hire Party which was a great opportunity to network with suppliers and other hirers. Due to the changes in our business, it is even more imperative that I visit the 2010 Show and I am looking forward to a very productive day!” This year’s Show has a great range of exhibitors that will definitely appeal to a company like Ash Hire. We look forward to seeing Ashley there and hope he can make the party as well!
05 January 2010 - Happy New Year
The countdown is well and truly on for the 2010 Executive Hire Show and the entire team is working around the clock to make this the best Show ever. Take a look at the up to date floor plan to see the new exhibitors that have signed up for the Show since we returned after the Christmas/New Year break!! I was planning to spend today visiting hirers around the Shropshire area, but as you can see by the above photograph, when I went to get into my van at 7.00AM this morning around six inches of snow had fallen overnight!! Despite my best efforts I could not even get my van off the garden path, so unfortunately my planned visits had to be cancelled. The weather forecast for the next few days is for more snow and temperatures well below freezing, so driving conditions will not be getting any better. Please rest assured that as soon as it safe to do so, I will be up and down the country again visiting hirers to spread the word about the Show!
16 December 2009 - KDM Hire, Mallusk, Belfast
I visited the company’s Mallusk depot on the outskirts of Belfast and spoke to General Manager, Andy Trail and F.D, Michael Donnelly. Show Director, Rob Aplin recently visited the company’s impressive Cookstown head office for an editorial feature that will appear in the forthcoming Show preview issue of EHN. During my discussions with Andy and Michael, I talked them through the floor plan for the 2010 Show which they both found very impressive considering the prevailing economic conditions. Andy commented, “It is great to see that there will be a broad cross-section of exhibitors supporting the Show ranging from some of the biggest manufacturers in the industry to smaller niche product suppliers. KDM Hire will be visiting the Show to keep abreast of new products and developments along with catching up with our existing suppliers. Winning this year’s Passionate Independent Hirer award gave us all a real boost as it recognized the hard work and commitment of all the team at KDM Hire!” We look forward to welcoming KDM Hire to the 2010 Show and the search for the winner of the 2010 Passionate Hirer Award is already well under way!
15 December 2009 - McCarroll Plant Hire, Cloughmills, Ballymena
I visited the company in the run up to the 2009 Show and it was great to see Rory and Michael again. I arrived at the depot at 17.20 on a cold, dark December evening so it was impossible to get a picture of my hire car c/w Executive Hire Show signs. Rory and Michael are big supporters of the Show, so much so, that as soon as the dates for the event were released, they booked their flights to Birmingham Airport. Following on from this, they were amongst the first hirers to preregister for the 2010 Show. During our conversation, I discussed the floor plan for the 2010 Show and asked what benefits did McCarroll Plant Hire get from the 2009 event. Michael pointed out, “We added a number of items to our hire fleet at the Show, including a manual plasterboard lifter from Sumner Manufacturing, a conveyor from Mace Industries and a rotovator from the Hire Supply Company. We also made the initial contact with Higher Concept Software at the Show and we are now fully operational with their Syrinx system. The atmosphere at the event was very positive and we were made to feel very welcome by both the exhibitors and Show organizers.” The Executive Hire Show receives a lot of support from passionate hirers such as the McCarroll’s based in Ireland that show their commitment and support by willingly incurring the necessary travel costs to support their industry’s annual event.
08 December 2009 - TAG Tool Hire, Halifax
I called in and spoke to Director’s Tony Pilkington and Alex Brownridge who were both realistic and positive about their progress to date. Tony and Alex have attended previous Executive Hire Show’s whilst working for other hire companies and they are both looking forward to attending their first Show as TAG Tool Hire. Tony commented, “As our business continues to develop, we are always on the lookout for new products, ideas and initiatives to help us drive forward. Looking at the floor plant for the 2010 event, there are already lots of stands that we will make a point of visiting. Anything new and innovative that we can add to our hire fleet will help us to maintain a competitive edge, so we are looking forward to a full and interesting day. Another thing that appeals to us about the Show is the chance to meet and talk to other hirers as we can learn from their experiences and hopefully be able to help and support them.” TAG Tool Hire are one of several new hire companies that are looking forward to the 2010 Show and we look forward to welcoming them!
07 December 2009 - Hodgson Tool Hire & Sales, Ormskirk
I called in to their impressive head office at Ormskirk and spoke at length to Area Manager, Lee Cavey who visited this year’s Show with Director, Mike Hodgson. Lee was very enthusiastic about the Show and commented, “We were amongst the first hirers to arrive at 8am on the first day of this year’s event and one of the last to leave at the end of the day. We spent the morning looking around all the stands and then at lunch time sat down for something to eat and planned the specific stands we wanted to take a closer look at in the afternoon. We purchased two Timberwolf Chippers at the Show and as a result of the contact we made with Gordon Ford have subsequently bought two Ford Ranger pickups. We also caught up with a number of our current suppliers including Duro and Higher Concept Software along with several of the power tool manufacturers. The timing of the 2010 Show is just right as we all look forward to a better year.” It is great to see that just after my visit, Mike and Lee preregistered for the 2010 Show! Hopefully it proves that the Executive Hire Show Team’s proactive approach to attracting visitors to the event is working. Lee made a very valid point that he thought there was not enough seating areas inside the hall for hirers to sit down to have something to eat and drink or to talk to other hirers. For the 2010 Show, we are introducing a couple of specific areas to relax and have something to eat along with a new “Keep in Touch” point where hirers can meet up and even check their emails on the computers provided.
02 December 2009 The observant amongst you will notice that last week hirer visits for the 2010 Show took place all over the UK! Buoyed by the fact that pre-registered visitor numbers are already up on the same period last year, we have redoubled our efforts to visit as many hirers as possible to tell them all about EHS 2010. Last week, in addition to my own visits, I was joined by our Events Manager, Alex Brain who visited Devon and Cornwall. Our Group Sales Manager, Nigel Carter visited Nottingham, Essex and East Anglia. And last, but not least our Editor, Alan Guthrie visited a number of hirers based around the Scottish borders. We are all really fired up about next year’s Show and no stone is being left unturned to deliver a first class event to both visitors and exhibitors. If there are any Passionate Hirers out there who would like us to visit in the run up to the next February’s Show, just click on the link on the link further up the page and we will do our very best to call in and see you!
27 November 2009 - Harwich Tool Hire, Harwich
Our Group Sales Manager, Nigel Carter called in and was made very welcome by owner, Sean Mills. During their conversation, Nigel discussed the Show in depth with Sean who has not previously attended the event. Sean was impressed with the mix of exhibitors on the floor plan, many of whom he is already dealing with. Having listened to what the Show has to offer, we are pleased to report that Sean will be attending the 2010 event for the first time! We look forward to welcoming Sean to his first EHS and are delighted that a growing number of hirers find the Show relevant, interesting and great use of a day of their valuable time!
25 November 2009 - Tavistock Hire Centre, Tavistock
Our Events Manager, Alex Brain called in and spoke to Director Craig Howes who runs the company with Co-Director Craig Smith. Alex was impressed with the depot and Craig’s drive and passion for the business. Having both worked for national hire companies, Craig and Craig decided to take the plunge and use their local knowledge and contacts to start their own business back in early 2007. It is encouraging to see that the two Craig’s have already preregistered for the 2010 Show and they are not in the least bit put off by the distance they have to travel! Craig commented “We are really looking forward to the Show and will use it as an opportunity to look what is new on the market and to talk to other independent hirers.” We look forward to seeing the team from Tavistock Hire Centre at the Show and appreciate their commitment and support.
24 November 2009 - Frank Key Plant & Tool Hire, Nottingham
Our Group Sales Manager, Nigel Carter called in and spoke to Director, Richard Johnson (pictured in the centre of colleagues Dave Atkin, left and Ian Harris, right) who was very positive about 2010. Richard commented, “We have attended previous Executive Hire Shows and found them very interesting and informative. We are opening our second hire branch next March, so the timing of the Show will be perfect for us to look for new equipment and get some great deals. We are intending to use the Show as an opportunity to stock out our new depot with both hire equipment and consumables. It will also be good to catch up with other hirers and see how they have found 2009 and gauge their thoughts on 2010. Frank Key Plant & Tool Hire are a great example of hirers with positive plans for next year. I’m sure exhibitors will be keen to meet them to try and win some of the potential business for their new depot!
18 November 2009 - Truby Tool Hire, Cornsay Colliery, Durham
Whilst I was in the area, I called in and spoke to owner, Ian Truby who was very enthusiastic about next year’s Show. Ian commented, “I am intending to visit the Show and will be taking the family with me. There are a number of our existing suppliers stands that we will be visiting including Higher Concept Software, Belle, Camon and Stihl. In addition to this we will be looking out for new products that will be of interest to our customer base and will present us with new opportunities to increase hire and sales business.” It is great to see hirers like Ian that are prepared to travel long distances to support the Show and I know our exhibitors will make them feel welcome.
18 November 2009 - Tool-Time, Bishop Auckland
I called in and spoke at length to Director’s, Jeff Hind and Mark Hatton who made me feel very welcome. We discussed the current state of the hire industry and Jeff was keen to hear how other hirers are fairing up and down the country. Both Jeff and Mark attended the first two Executive Hire Shows, but unfortunately they were unable to make it to the 2009 Show because one of them was away on holiday. Jeff stated, “We were sorry to miss the event and are intending to get across to the Ricoh for next year’s Show. What really interests us is looking for new equipment and ideas and we are drawn to stands that offer something different. I will be attending the Motor Cycle Show in a few weeks time and I know for a fact that there will be lots of manufacturers there exhibiting their 2010 models. Tools, equipment and plant manufacturers should take notice of this and strive to show new products as this is what all hirers really want to see!” We are intending to visit the 2010 Show and will use it as an opportunity to catch up with our existing suppliers and look out for new hire and sales opportunities.
6 November 2009 - Denbigh Plant Services, Colwyn Bay
I called in to the Colwyn Bay depot and spoke to Partner, Paul Constantine who visited the 2009 Show with Depot Manager, Kevin Jones. The first thing that struck me was the range of products on display in their impressive showroom, ranging from chainsaws to ride on lawn mowers. There are also some amazing wooden sculptures on display that have been carved using chainsaws. During my conversation with Paul and Kevin, it was clear to see that Denbigh Plant Services have close links with their customer base, which as well as contractors and DIY users, also consists of forestry, gardening and agricultural customers. Paul stated, “We visited this year’s Show primarily to catch up with the manufacturers that we hold dealerships for, such as Stihl and Husqvarna. In addition, we had a good look around the Hilti and Wacker stands and were impressed with what we saw. The Show proved to be a very positive day for us as it was a great opportunity to look at equipment first hand. It is not always possible to evaluate a piece of equipment over the internet or from a brochure, it is great to be able to touch it and ask questions. During our visit to the Show, we purchased a Chipper from Timberwolf, which has been a positive addition to our hire fleet. We are intending to go to the 2010 event to see what is new and hope to be impressed again.” Denbigh Plant Services are one of many hirers that are keen to see new and innovative products at the Show which presents exhibitors with great opportunity to find new business if they have products that will draw hirers onto their stands!
4 November 2009 - Miniquip Tool & Equipment Hire, Garstang
I called in and spoke to Managing Director, Andy Johnson who visited EHS 09 and was made to feel very welcome. Whilst I was there, it was clear to see Andy’s rapport with his customers as they came in to hire kit. Andy commented, “I visited the Show in February to have a close look at a number of items, including hire software systems. There were a number of other stands that I visited including, Midland Power, Camon and JCB as they had products that were of specific interest to me. For me, an added bonus of going to the Show was the fact that we won two fully stocked display stands of consumables on the Toolpak stand. Part of the attraction of the Show is that it is a great social occasion for hirers with lots of conversations taking place up and down the aisles between hirers from all over the country!” Andy is one of a growing number of independent hirers planning to visit EHS 2010 and it is this sort of support that is going to make it a great event!
28 October 2009 - Hire 4 Lower – London
I called in and spoke at length to Managing Director, Colin Tall who was clearly passionate about the business. Colin showed me around the depot and it was plain to see the attention to detail that has gone into the hire desk, showroom, office, yard and workshop areas. Colin made a very valid point about the Show being the only real opportunity for independent hirers to network and find out what is new from a broad cross section of manufacturers and suppliers. He commented “This is a once a year opportunity to meet other hirers from all over the country and get their thoughts on the state of the industry and how they find dealing with their various suppliers. Independent hirers are all experiencing the same day to day issues, for example our business rates have gone up dramatically this year and we feel that hirers should stick together on issues such as this! Over time there has been a marked decrease in the number of salesmen that visit independent hirers, so attending the Show is the best way to find out what is new. The last year has been challenging, but we are intending to visit the 2010 Show and hope to find some fresh ideas and products to help take next year forward!” We look forward to welcoming Colin to the Show and know he will get the opportunity to meet up with lots of like minded hirers.
You have probably noticed the fact that I have been in a different van for some of my visits. I would like to thank Paul Turner at Gordons Ford in Bolton for lending me one of their demonstrators for a week and keeping me mobile whilst my own van was in for some warranty work. Cheers Paul!
14 October 2009 - Wright Hire – Marple, Cheshire
I called in to the Marple depot and spoke to Director, Tony Wright who has been a great supporter of the Executive Hire Show with his son Terry who is the Managing Director of the company. Tony explained, “We are looking forward to visiting the 2010 Show and will be bringing our Marple Depot Manager, Carl Garside with us. We will be looking to replace some existing machinery in our hire fleet and will also be on the lookout for any new products that catch our eye. There are a number of exhibitor’s stands that we will be visiting including, JCB, Belle and Redband, who supplied us with a Power Tower at this year’s Show. As a company, we think it is vital that exhibitors do their utmost to make their stands welcoming to independent hirers like ourselves and offer deals that are simply too good to refuse!” We look forward to seeing the team from Wright Hire at EHS 2010 and hope they have a great day!
12 October 2009 - Hire It! - Kidderminster
When I visited the depot it was full of customers and I spoke briefly to Manager, Keith Keenan and left him a copy of the current floor plan. Keith had a good look and was impressed with the number of exhibitors that had already signed up for the Show. He stated that, “We will definitely be attending EHS 2010 to look out for new products and ideas.” We look forward to welcoming the team from Hire-It! to the Show and appreciate their continued support!
12 October 2009 - Prestige Hire, Birmingham
I called in and spent some time with General Manager, Phil Baker who is a passionate supporter of the Show. Phil explained, “As we are based in easy reach of the Ricoh Arena, we have taken a number of our good customers to the Show over the last couple of years. It is a great opportunity to get customer feedback on what new equipment that they would like to see in our fleet. In addition to this, it is a perfect opportunity to spend quality time with our customers away from the office. This helps us to strengthen relationships and increase customer loyalty.” Phil and his colleagues purchased a number of items at last year’s Show and got some great deals. They already have the dates for the 2010 Show in their diaries and say it is an event that they cannot miss!
2 October 2009 - P.E.T Hire, Crewe
I called in and spoke at length to Managing Director, Carl Banks and it is hard not to be impressed by the set up. In addition to a very large hire showroom, they have separate sections for power tool sales/repairs and a scaffolding division. Carl and his wife Barbara have attended the previous two Shows and found them a great showcase for new kit. Carl commented, “We spent in excess of £50,000 at the 2009 event on various items including a 16 metre tracked cherry picker from Easylift, 5 plant tracking devices from Redweb, a floor preparation machine from HTC, a rotivator from Camon Tracmaster, a website from Abnix Solutions, 10 pumps from Obart and 3 laser levels. Ultimately, we would not have purchased this equipment if we had not gone to the Show! It is great to see passionate independent hirers supporting the event and the exhibitors that have shown the commitment to be at the Show!
1 October 2009 - Alpine Hire, Warrington, Cheshire
I visited the company and spoke to Directors, Matt Dolan and Jem Butler who were both realistic and positive about how they are currently finding business. Matt commented, “We have a very diverse customer base and strive to ensure they continue to choose Alpine Hire. We view the Show as a great opportunity to look for new kit that we can add to our fleet to help set us apart from our peers. Our previous two visits have resulted in us adding a number of new items to our hire fleet including Micro Diggers from Amman and Tracked Dumpers from Seddons.” Matt and Jem are intending to visit the 2010 Show and are considering taking some of their bigger customers with them to gauge their opinions on possible new additions to their hire fleet. |
Special congratulations to Hire-It! (Kidderminster) who won the Passionate Hirer Award at the 2010 Show, sponsored by Arcgen Hilta.
Bingham Hire Centre have been great supporters of previous Executive Hire Show’s. When we have carried out our post Show research following the previous two events, I have spoken to Director of Bingham Hire, Tony North who has been very positive and encouraging. As I had not met Tony before, I was determined to make sure that I visited the company in the run up to this year’s Show.
Oaks Plant Hire are an independent hirer that in addition to tools and equipment offer a range of compact plant, such as dumpers, rollers, mini excavators and compressors.
Knight & Brenchley Tool Hire is a family run independent hirer.
Complete Hire Services are a single depot independent hirer run by Managing Director, Peter Houldridge and Depot Manager, Simon Winter.
Dromad Hire are an independent hirer with a very impressive depot and hire fleet.
Ash Hire are an independent hirer that are part of the Westgate Holdings group of companies.
I would like to wish every hirer and exhibitor a very Happy New Year!
KDM Hire were the winners of the Executive Hire Show Passionate Independent Hirer award 2009.
McCarroll Plant Hire is a single depot independent hirer run by father and son, Rory and Michael McCarroll.
TAG Tool Hire are a single depot independent hirer that started trading in April this year.
Hodgson Tool Hire & Sales are an independent hirer with two depots in Ormskirk and Ainsdale.
Harwich Tool Hire are a single depot independent hirer that in addition to hire also have an impressive safety wear showroom.
Tavistock Hire Centre are a single depot independent hirer with a strong local reputation.
Frank Key Plant & Tool Hire are an independent hirer which is part of Frank Key Builders Merchants. They have offered a comprehensive range of tools and equipment for hire for in excess of 30 years and in conjunction with the builders merchant part of the business offer a one stop shop for builders.
Truby Tool Hire are a single depot independent hirer that our Editor, Alan Guthrie reported on back in September.
Tool-Time are a single depot independent hirer that I have visited in the run up to the previous two Shows.
Denbigh Plant Services are an independent hirer with two depots in Colwyn Bay and Denbigh.
Miniquip Tool & Equipment Hire are a single depot independent hirer based in a busy builder merchant’s in Garstang near Preston.
Hire 4 Lower are and independent hirer with a great looking depot in the heart of Central London.
Wright Hire are an independent hirer with two impressive depots in Marple and Glossop.
Hire-It! are a single depot independent hirer that are amongst the Executive Hire Show’s biggest supporters. Each year Managing Director, John Davies brings along most of his team during the two days of the Show. They are based in a large impressive depot in Kidderminster and their range of equipment is very comprehensive.
Prestige Hire are a single depot independent hirer that offer a broad range of tools, equipment and compact plant. They also offer nationwide hire coverage and support for the range of ASI Rhinopatch Pot Hole & Road Repair equipment.
PET Hire are a single depot independent hirer that have been on the final shortlist in the previous two Executive Hire Shows, Passionate Independent Hirer Awards.
Alpine Hire are a single depot independent hirer that have supported the previous two Executive Hire Shows.