000741 - Crosshire 23/1/09 19:07 Page 1
CROSSHIRE
SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST
This year, many academics and worthies who still enjoy Such innovations are uncharted territory and will cause
protected salaries and index-linked pensions will be eyebrows to be raised, but the consequences of doing nothing
celebrating the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles are possibly similar to the fate of some of the species Darwin
Darwin. While the likes of you and I ponder whether we can documented. The first to suffer the effects of recession have
afford to repair our kit to the standard we would like, been our suppliers and it is unfortunate that a few have,
or authorise a few hours overtime to help out a customer in indeed, become extinct.
need, the halls of our learned institutions will be considering
‘The Origin of Species’ as never before. It is pleasing to see that, despite what must have been a
tremendous temptation to economise and walk away, many
One thing is for certain: Darwin’s theory of adaptation for suppliers have decided that they will support our industry by
survival is just as relevant for business as living organisms. exhibiting at the Executive Hire Show next month. This is an act
Thanks to Sod’s Law, we do of faith in the future of the hire game that we should all support.
not have the luxury It may be less likely than previous years that we will
of changing go to the Show with the intention of placing
over the orders, but we ought to support our
millennia, we suppliers. After all, they may
need to do it surprise us with what’s
PDQ or we will on offer!
be joining
Monty We are,
Python’s ex- indeed, in
parrot as an partnership
extinct with them as
species! I am part of a
pleased to multi-million
report that pound supply
already many chain. Despite
hire outfits are the garbage being
taking action to pedalled by politicians and some
protect their business journalists, many of you will have noticed that the world did not
and their staff during the present emergency. end after Christmas, and punters did start ringing up for kit
again. We have had more than one call from newcomers whose
As always, innovation is being led by the independent first choice would have been a large outfit, but they have been
segment where, instead of massive job cuts and depot let down due to staff cutbacks, broken delivery promises or
closures, I have heard of a number of initiatives that have been even depot closures. The name of the game is SERVICE and it
adopted to ease the pain of downturn. A number of you have is delivered by PEOPLE. We need our suppliers as much as our
put staff on three or four-day staggered weeks and, in most customers, so I do hope that we will see a good turnout at the
cases, although the business owners are continuing to work as Ricoh Arena in Coventry on 11 and 12 February.
normal, they are also accepting a corresponding cut in salary.
Some independents are talking of co-operative arrangements For those who are able to spend a few quid, I am told that there
to ease costs, particularly of transport and repairs. As I write will be some pretty keen offers on the stands. Most importantly,
this, a regional machinery distributor and a local hire company the Show represents an unrivalled opportunity to talk to each
have agreed to join forces in a merger that is intended to other and demonstrate that, as in previous hard times, our
produce economies, without sacrificing the independence of wonderful and diverse industry is capable of innovation and
the individual organisations. change - and not just to survive, but also to prosper.
52
See us on stand A59 at the Executive Hire Show
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