Watson Tool Hire & Repair Centre - Profile


“There are four of us working here now. My daughter Kiera comes in at the weekend to help out, and Mandy, who is an equal partner in the business, looks after the paperwork. When we started here seven years ago we both went on a book-keeping course to better understand the business, and it all finally clicked.”


It’s hard to miss Watson Tool Hire, with its depot located on a busy thoroughfare and a captive audience that amasses whenever the level crossing up the road closes. The larger equipment on display outside suggests the stock in trade, but what is in the fleet exactly?


“Probably our biggest hire would be compactor plates. It’s been difficult getting hold of them recently, but a company in Hartlepool has brought in a new machine from Germany that uses a Loncin engine, and it has proved to be very popular. We also do a lot of Acrow Props, Genie Lifts, Bumpas, Bobcat diggers, Stihl saws and Hilti breakers for local builders.


“We crosshire diggers up to nine tonnes and dumpers to three tonnes, but because of our location we can’t keep anything bigger than micro diggers. That’s our limit until we


part of the wider business, although more for sale than hire. What sort of equipment do you carry in that line?


“For gardeners and landscapers we have rotavators, turf and brushcutters, stumpgrinders three inch chippers, and we carry Webb and Cobra lawnmowers. (Stihl) Chainsaws are another big one, because there are a lot of large gardens and plots of land around here. Before I knew it, we were selling them every single week, so we also offer repair and blade sharpening services.”


Tool repair is a key part of the Watson service, and the workshop was a hive of activity on my visit. What can you tell me about this side of the business?


“We always used to offer small repairs, but when we moved here I decided to push that a lot harder,” says Gordon. “I researched the local area, and hardly anybody else seemed to be offering repairs.


“I advertised the repairs massively for the first two years, using local papers, the website and doing leaflet drops. We’re now getting machines in from up to 30 miles away and we repair power tools, compactor plates, generators, lawnmowers and rotavators, but nothing larger until we relocate.”


Watson Tool Hire does well with Stihl equipment.


decide how we’re going to expand.” Based on the current location, then, what sort of customers do you have?


“We get absolutely all sorts in here – from rough and ready builders to upper class ladies. It’s chalk and cheese, and everything in between. No two days are the same, because as well as plant and tool hire, we also repair equipment and we have the retail side too – we’ve probably sold 100 lawnmowers in the last 12 months, which is absolutely tremendous for us!” says Gordon.


Garden and groundscare machinery is a key


And is there much demand for battery products or more sustainably fueled equipment in the local area?


“To be honest, people like to stick with what they know,” says Gordon. “However, we’ve been speaking with the Stihl rep, and with the Husqvarna guys at the Glasgow Roadshow, and we’re looking to introduce more battery equipment for hire and sales in the New Year – that’s just the way that things are going. It might be a few years before we look at battery diggers, as the costs are a bit to high right now.”


Finally, the prospect of expanding and relocating seems to be high on the agenda. What. where and, perhaps, who next for the business?


Bandcamp Gordon twirled the drumsticks in


several local groups – initially in ‘The Natives’ and 'Nu Issue' seen here (Gordon centre back), and other bands that were signed to local label ‘Kitchenware’ and EMI records. Even Prefab Sprout came calling, although he was advised not to leave the band. So near and yet so far, but the business eventually put paid to a musical career. However, rock’s loss was definitely hire’s gain.


The company receives a captive audience whenever the level crossing up the road closes.


“I’m currently looking at a premises in Hetton, funnily enough next door to the place we used to be in, so it’s an ongoing conversation at the moment. We’re also looking at a location in Durham, in the Langley Moor area as we see a lot of potential for garden machinery repair and sales there. However, my daughter Kiera is looking to run her own branch. She’s coming up 22, but she understands every aspect of this business.


“This location will be flattened in the next few years, but the real reason we’re relocating is a question of scale and space – we need an external compound to wash equipment, and to accommodate larger plant. Five years from now, I would hope to have three or four more staff, with a workshop many times larger and repairs quadrupling. That’s where I see a lot of growth coming from.” n


Nov/Dec 2021 - Executive Hire News 45


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