HEAVYSIDE
THE CHERRY (PICKER) ON THE BUILDERS MERCHANTS’ CAKE
An cherrypicker hire service is being made available via independent builders merchants to expand their service to customers as BMJ finds out.
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uilders merchants’ customers can now pick up or drop off a 20m cherrypicker at their local independent builders merchant. That’s thanks to access rental specialists Height for Hire teaming up with independent builders merchants across the UK. Height for Hire is a family owned access rental company with over 68 locations across four countries, started over 40 years ago and now into its second generation of leadership. Height for Hire carried out extensive research, and found that 99% of buildings in Britain are under 20m in height, which means that a 20m machine will service the majority of buildings, allowing more people to work safely at height.
Family businesses can be very different in terms of their trade, but always share the same values and ethos at their core – in that they have to be agile and innovative in order to preserve the legacy and survive from one generation to the next.
A gap in the market
Access companies are traditionally known as a service for the construction sector, but the changing nature of that business means there are new opportunities to be found, according to Height for Hire managing director Fergus McArdle.
“The cherrypicker machine has to be a user-friendly product, that is quick and easy to set up, and available to anyone, anytime, anywhere. Getting machinery where you want it when you want it is becoming increasingly challenging. Traffic is getting worse, not better,” he explains.
Height for Hire has made 20metre cherrypickers available at a number of independent builders merchants across the UK. The machine can reach up to 20m and is mounted on a 3.5-tonne chassis, so the end user can drive it on a standard car licence and, therefore travel between various locations for different jobs. This also allows them to work the hours that suit them, and take on more jobs across a larger geographical area. The company has developed an app so the machines can be booked online. The customer can then pick them up from their local builders merchants and an agent is available on site to hand over the machine. When the job is done, they leave the machine back at any designated drop off point. Every hire is backed up by a 24- hour technical support phone line. “As a business, we have always been forward thinking and embrace innovative technologies,” McArdle says.
“Independent builders merchants are a natural ally for family-owned access companies - they may share a similar customer base without being in direct competition, they often have excess yard space and share the values of a family business – big enough to make a difference but small enough to care. “It isn’t that the product in itself is something unusual, but the approach to have them available to book online and pick up and drop off at builders merchants yards nationwide is a novel approach. It’s an added service for the merchant’s existing customer base and a way to increase footfall by attracting new customers. It is also an opportunity to maximise unused space in the
yard to create an additional revenue stream.” In essence, Height for Hire is looking for parking spaces at builders merchants for these vehicles. Other than invoicing Height for Hire for the parking space, no additional input is required from the merchants’ team. Height for Hire pay in advance for the location, and request a month’s notice should the merchant wish to discontinue the project. However, the company says it does usually take a minimum of six months for the project to gain traction in an area.
The company will employ a Self Drive Agent in the area who will be a practical and helpful individual – part-promoter/part operator to cover the merchant’s network of depots, ensuring that the service is always “close to the customer”. An added benefit for the merchant is that they have use of the machine when it is not on hire and Height for Hire will train the merchant’s employees to use it safely. McArdle says: “We have had some great success to date with well established builders merchants across the UK, such as Beatsons Building Supplies, Lawsons, M Markovitz, Mid-Sussex Timber, Beers Timber & Building Supplies, John A. Stephens, Nicholls & Clarke Group, Smart Build Supplies and A W Lumb. “It’s been a good start, with more than 40 locations on board, but we’re keen to grow this and build on the success to date.” “Parts of the country are not as well serviced as we would like, so we have topped up the merchant locations with self storage locations etc. But we would happily swap that out to be in a merchants yard, says McArdle. “So don’t be put off even if we already have a pin on the map close to you – it would still be good to talk.” 07720 736 609.
www.heightforhire.com BMJ
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www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net April 2020
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