AT THE
HEART OF HIRE
L O O K I N G F O R W A R D …
Following the General Election in December, which returned a government with a clear majority, the signs are that the New Year has started with a mood of more stability in political and economic circles. Certainly, as our Market Watch article on page 13 points out, the financial markets reacted positively immediately after the result was known.
This should encourage those making decisions about new construction projects to approve contracts that have been put on hold during the previous period of uncertainty. Time will tell.
There was further good news just before the election, when one of the major home improvement retailers released interesting data about the market it serves. This suggested that the home improvement sector is currently worth £25bn and is forecast to grow at a rate of 2.5% per annum, meaning that by 2024 the market could reach £28bn.
The report further suggested that the DIY market would remain stable, and that consumers were increasingly becoming DIFM
customers - asking the supplier to ‘do it for me’ and either taking advantage of its sales, design and installation service, or asking a local tradesman to advise on and undertake their projects. This should be good news for hire companies, because it will drive demand for equipment, materials and consumables from homeowners and contractors.
And there is much evidence of such optimism throughout this issue. In our Profile article starting on page 15, Bradfords Tool Hire - whose parent builders’ merchant business celebrates its 250th anniversary this year - reports that its recently opened depot in Sherborne has got off to a flying start, and that three more sites are planned in 2020 to meet growing demand from both professionals and consumers.
Similarly, in our article on Miles Hire on page 55, we report on the company’s plans to increase the staff levels at its Cardiff depot, and to expand its Swansea head office, as its busy customer base grows. As Director Ryan Miles tells us, “We are now serving customers across most of South Wales. Some tell us they already have full order books for 2020, so we are very positive about the year ahead.”
… T O D I S C O V E R I N G T H E F U T U R E
And the upbeat mood is also evident in our Preview of the Executive Hire Show. This year’s exhibition will be the 14th, and it takes place once again at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry on 5 and 6 February.
There will be more than 150 suppliers ready to do business when you visit. Many of these companies have chosen the Show as the launch pad for their latest products. And, as you can read in our article beginning on page 40, sixteen of them have been selected for the Innovation Trail, highlighting some of the most impressive new machines, with ten having been chosen for our Innovation Trail - Live event. Running hourly throughout both days of the Show, the suppliers’ representatives will explain their product’s innovative qualities ‘live’ to the audience of hire visitors.
In our article on page 22, we talk to a number of hirers throughout the country who are eagerly looking forward to their visit, and they explain why their industry peers should ensure they also attend.
5
Comments include: “It is a great way of making sure I’m up to speed with all the latest product innovations; “You can put faces to the names of people you deal with over the phone; and “We’ll be on the lookout for that special product that can help us target niche opportunities.”
Given the more positive outlook as 2020 begins, the Show remains the perfect platform for Passionate Hirers and Innovative Suppliers to strengthen existing business relationships and create new ones. And, as is shown in our preview of new products being launched, starting on page 56, there will be a huge number of new opportunities to explore.
To register to visit your industry’s major national exhibition, go to
www.executivehireshow.com now. There will be many exciting new products to discover, and they could play a key role in creating a positive future for your business.
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