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AT THE HEART OF HIRE


INDUSTR Y’S KEY BAROMETER


Of course this Forum is going to talk about last month’s Executive Hire Show. However, before we had a chance to let you know our thoughts, you’ve been busy telling us how good it was! “Quite simply, the Show was fantastic. In fact, I think it was the best hire industry exhibition I have ever attended. There was a real buzz everywhere you went in the hall.”


Just for good measure, this leading hirer spent £1m at the Show - and this is only the beginning of his spend for 2011. However, top of the list of hirers placing orders was Speedy, which spent £5m with several leading exhibitors. This figure could well rise to £10m if its current trading levels are maintained.


Commencing on page 19, we caught up with some of the hirers who were visiting the exhibition from all over the UK and Ireland, even from Jersey, as they toured the 115 stands in the hall. Typical of their comments is the statement, “Going to the Show is vital. It’s an opportunity to have an uninterrupted day looking at new products and cementing relationships with loyal suppliers. And I was delighted that there was such a positive mood amongst exhibitors and visitors, which augurs well for the year ahead.”


COMPELLING READ


This issue really is a compelling read as you can find out much more about the major orders placed by hirers at the Show, and check out all the latest products launched by innovative suppliers. In addition, watch the great new Show video at executivehireshow.com. Beyond the Show, Editor Alan Guthrie has also returned to the day job and got out and about doing


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what this magazine does best – meeting hirers of all shapes and sizes.


Our TP Hire Profile, ‘The merchant’s tale’, starting on page 15, demonstrates how well a builders’ merchant can perform in hire if it puts its mind to it. On page 28, there’s also an interesting article on one of our favourite hirers, Herts Equipment Rental, which has decided to focus entirely on traffic management solutions and is in the process of selling off its access tower and general hire fleet. Our third dedicated hirer article looks at how an enterprising individual is developing his compact plant hire fleet.


TURMOIL IN MIDDLE EAST


However, just when we could be forgiven for thinking that the garden is beginning to look rosy again, along comes Catherine Stratton and the voice of reason. This month’s City News kicks off by highlighting the political turmoil in North Africa and the Middle East. This has impacted severely on stock markets across the globe and she argues that this looks set to continue for some time.


Catherine goes on to speculate that the increase in oil prices could overturn the economic recovery in the US and Europe. With a fall in GDP in the final quarter of last year, she suggests that the UK recovery is already looking shaky and leaves us with the question as to whether this is a temporary blip or not.


If the Executive Hire Show is as accurate a barometer of our industry’s outlook and confidence for 2011 as we believe it to be, then consider it a blip.


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