000804 - Exec News 1 28/5/09 15:54 Page 1
4 HIRE’S “EXPLOSIVE GROWTH” IN JERSEY
According to Director Nigel Blandin, 4 Hire has enjoyed “explosive was that this forced us to invest
growth” on the island of Jersey since the company was established another £400,000.”
in July last year by Nigel and fellow Directors Alex McMasters, Mick 4 Hire now operates 15 Bobcat excavators from the 750kg micro up
Jehan as well as Roger Quenault. Having sold his former company to 7 tonne machines, 12 Neuson dumpers, Bomag rollers, a fleet of
Blandin Light Plant to Hewden in 2003, Nigel stayed with Hewden for Haulotte boom and scissor lift platforms, Cormidi tracked dumpers
three years before leaving in 2006 to run his own contracting and SRL battery-powered portable traffic light sets, amongst many
business. Alex and Mick also operated a groundwork and drainage others. In addition, all its plate compactors, pumps, vibrating pokers
contracting business. However, between them, they were “hiring and floor saws are all Wacker units.
equipment all over the island, but couldn’t get a good service, “Jersey is not recession proof, but our economy is different.
so we decided to set up 4 Hire. The island is like a money box storing money for people. Our housing
“Our business model is the same as that of a major car hire market has contracted, although house prices are actually rising.
company. We offer equipment that is new, or nearly new, clean and For us, the year has been phenomenal – far better than we expected.
well presented. Before each hire we valet the machines by cleaning There is no point in being miserable and depressed; you have to get
the windows, dashboard, cab seats and upholstery. The levers and on and put the work in. Throughout the year, we have never said ‘no’
control services are also cleaned and new paper mats are supplied. to a customer. Small independents like us know that it is our
We believe that, if you give a customer a good piece of equipment, customers that pay the wages. National hirers are more concerned
then that customer will give you back a good piece of equipment. with shareholder value. It is all about looking after customers. Smaller
On a small island like Jersey, customers expect a machine to be hirers will do well in this recession whereas large companies will
delivered at 8am, so we get in to work at 5am to ensure that deliveries haemorrhage money, achieving massive turnovers without any profit.”
are made on time. We also have a crusade to train our team,
customers and, even, competitors to CITB standard. Roger Quenault
is responsible for training and business development and he is
accredited by CSCS, IPAF and PASMA.”
Nigel Blandin reports that 4 Hire’s initial investment in equipment
was £400,000, but this quickly became £1m “as the business
exploded immediately.” On establishing 4 Hire, Nigel employed two of
his former team from Hewden and another followed later. Last
December, Hewden announced that it was closing its depot on the
island and this happened at the end of March. “This closure was both
a help and a hindrance. Hewden probably had 40% of the
Jersey market, followed by SGB Channel Islands and Normans.
By December, we had overtaken Hewden and our business continued
to grow as customers learnt of the closure of Hewden. The hindrance Nigel Blandin (front right) with the 4 Hire team.
Explorer
- Powerful 3-cylinder engine.
- Telescopic undercarriage (700-860 mm).
Wacker Neuson Limited
- Perfect kinematics in interaction of bucket
Lea Road, Waltham Cross
and dozer blade.
Hertfordshire, EN9 1AW
- Standard one-way auxiliary hydraulics.
Tel +44(0)1992 707200
- Protected stick cylinder.
www.wackerneuson.com
- Generous service access.
Powerful. Simple. Variable.
7
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