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CROSSHIRE YOUR ATTENDANCE IS ESSENTIAL


It is to be hoped that, as we look forward in this New Year, the difficulties we have all faced since 2008 are well and truly behind us. The signs are definitely encouraging and, as 2012 came to an end, the details of the about turn announced by the Chancellor with regard to restoring and increasing capital allowances for the next two years was indeed welcome.


A little planning and juggling of purchase dates means that most of us can go forward and look at the latest kit with a spring in our step. It certainly gives those suppliers who have supported our industry something to look forward to and, coupled with some of the very attractive finance terms that seem to be kicking about, there should be a lot of replacement kit in the market very soon.


All this makes our attendance at the forthcoming Executive Hire Show in Coventry absolutely essential in order to catch up on the latest equipment.


The Show is also one of the few places where the ordinary


members of our major trade


associations can look the officers and staff in the eye and have an input. I have long held the opinion that holding AGMs at odd times of the year and in remote locations will never encourage members to attend and participate.


Face-to-face talking to exchange ideas and air views direct to elected and professional association staff is far better than relying on the internet or any other modern communication gizmos. After all, we are a ‘people’ industry and most of us still spend the majority of our time talking to punters and suppliers. The Executive Hire Show is the best location to meet up with the people that we pay a not inconsiderable amount of subscription levy to, and to check out how, and why, they are spending our money.


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My own mission at the Show will be to see what goodies are lurking on some of those small, but very interesting, stands on the perimeter of the Main Hall and upstairs in the Top Tier. Every year I have managed to get excited about a number of innovations that offer the potential to save cost or add value to hire revenue. Of course, in the cold light of day after the Show, some have not withstood a robust commercial analysis, but others have been ordered and are still contributing to our daily efforts.


One local competitor muttered to me that he couldn’t see the point of going to a Show that had a lot of stands selling similar products. I pointed out that local builders might use the same argument to say there was no point in going to umpteen local hire outfits to hire similar kit! The difference, as ever, is in


selecting the right product from suppliers with the right people and back-up to complement our own diverse operations.


I am one of a


vanishing generation that can remember facing limited supplies and choice as late as the mid-1970s. At the second ever Hirex in 1974 most of us were being told by well known brand names that we could be placed on a waiting list for their products. Eyebrows were raised at the mention of discount! Funnily enough, the biggest offenders back then won’t be at the Show this year as their dinosaur attitude has rendered them extinct. I am sorry to say that many were old established British firms that thought they had a right to take orders and push customers around. Well, the final order they received was ‘Get lost’ and their legacy was to export jobs to other parts of the world. I am sure our current suppliers regard our industry as a vital partner and we would do well to embrace that as we visit their stands. Enjoy the Show!


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