Page 12 - OPE November 2019

INSIGHT
NZ Hire Industry
Also espousing a “positive outlook on the future” and with “no shortage of projects in the pipeline” is Canterbury access & forklift specialist Access Solutions and its Area Manager, Seamus Biddick.
Representing 2019’s other HIANZ Gold Medallist, Seamus says: “I was incredibly proud to receive the HIANZ Gold medal
on behalf of my team. It was made more special by earning the highest mark given to all participants in the annual audit. It goes to show that we have a business that we can be incredibly proud of.
“The process was rewarding, no business is perfect and the audit always finds work-ons regardless of the result.”
Is there anyone he’d like to namecheck or pay thanks to?
“The result would not have been possible without the hard work of the team. The team comes together every day to ensure that customers have the best experience and outcome possible.
“The Christchurch branch is also well supported by our General Manager Scott McKenzie and our Managing Director Michael Biddick. A result like this would not have been possible without them.”
STEPPING UP IN SCALE
If you want to get the big picture, bigger is alwaysbetter,ifyouseewhatImean.SoI turn to Hirepool, with its 70 locations, to get a broader view of the hire scene – and find out about some of the hire giant’s plans at the same time.
Gary Richardson, Hirepool’s GM Sales & Marketing, is kind enough to share his take on things.
Expressing some surprise that the Canterbury market declined as quickly as it did, Gary is another to agree that Otago and Southland are both “going really well”.
“Auckland, of course, is booming,” he says, Tauranga, the Bay of Plenty and the Hamilton regionare“goinggreatguns”,whiletherestof
the North Island is “pretty steady”.
While he will admit to being “a little bit worried about the lack of civil work that’s
being released by the Government” and, recognising that construction growth is slowing, Gary Richardson also confirms
that there’s still a fair pipeline of vertical construction and non-residential work in the works.
“So I think overall we’re pretty good,” he says. The market is “certainly not going to fall off the cliff.”
In terms of the Hirepool network, although the priority is to concentrate on “just continuing to improve our offer”, Gary admits that a second store is planned to open in Silverdale, North of Auckland, before Christmas this year.
There may well also be more Hirepool “pop-up” branches to cater for particularly large jobs, as and when a big customer needs close support.
In terms of improving the offer, as well
as stating “we’re just focusing on trying to
do a better job”, he’ll also share some of the big picture around the changing experience customers have with Hirepool, both remotely and when they come to a branch.
For example, in the last four or five months, there’s been the launch of online booking to domestic customers, which Gary Richardson saysis“goingreallygreatguns”,andwillsoon be followed by the roll-out of the same service to Hirepool’s trade customers.
Does he think this 24/7 access is about new or existing customers?
“It’s early days [but] I think there’s a mixture of both in there. So we’ve certainly seen some new people come on board and that’s probably more in the millennial space. But certainly, there’s a big element of existing customers who are just making that switch over towards [online].”
Customers are also seeing evidence of Hirepool’s digital program when they sign forahireproductattheirlocalbranch–or
indeed if Hirepool comes to them on-site – in the form of what’s now a paperless, tablet- based process.
It’s quicker, allows instant access to records and accounts and there’s more to come on this front but Gary is staying tight-lipped about what’s next.
In terms of products it’ll be no surprise that Hirepool has been seeing demand for more and more battery-powered equipment as some demand shifts away from two-stroke motivation: “That’s a clear trend that we think will continue,” says Gary Richardson, who qualifies by saying there are still “plenty of customers” who are happy to use petrol petrol-powered products.
Has Hirepool noticed any real effect of home unaffordability so far, with the kind of customers who may in the past have been doing DIY on their first home but are now being forced into becoming
“Generation Rent”?
“Overall the DIY market is still pretty good
for us. I was worried a couple of years ago that, with home ownership becoming tougher for young people, we might see more renters and less people in the market.
“But, so far, we’re not seeing the effect of that. I think there’s actually, if anything, a few more millennials showing an interest in landscaping or creating outdoor rooms etc.
“I don’t think the shift towards rentals has really had any effect right now but, give it another couple of years and I’m pretty sure it will.
“And if it does, that could mean hire companies might have to start thinking more about tailoring our offerings to landlords rather than to people who own homes.”
And that may not be a bad thing. As Gary Richardson says, “The hire model is always evolving.” n
The team at Access Solutions Christchurch were rightly chuffed with their HIANZ Gold Medal.
012 NZOUTDOORPOWEREQUIPMENT NOVEMBER2019
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CHANGES AT
THE TOP AT
KENNARDS
LAST MONTH, KENNARDS Hire,
announced a number of senior leadership changes.
Taking up the role of General Manager, Western Australia is David Schurman (above left), who will be responsible
for the strategic development and management of Kennards Hire’s largest geographical state.
David spent the last two years as
an Area Manager as part of Kennards’ Victorian operations, before which he was based in Queensland as the Branch Manager for Bowen Hills.
David Schurman moves into his new role following Tony Symons’ appointment as General Manager, Product (photo top right).
With his commercial background
and acumen for turning challenges
into opportunities, Tony sees a future
in products like rechargeable battery products, alternative energy sources like solar lighting towers and products that reduce environmental impacts.
www.kennardshire.co.nz
Kennards puts the spring into Springboard
YOUTH-FOCUSED CHARITY,
Springboard, and Kennards Hire, teamed up again in late October at Springboard’s annual log-splitting day.
This year, a crew of five from Kennards Hire bought along six hydraulic log-splitters and, with added strength from local police and the Springboard team, chipped in to split more than 60m3 of wood.
Dan Gray, Springboard’s General Manager, says the annual event “provides great momentum for the season ahead,
and it’s great to see such a positive and productive vibe down in the back yard.”
This season, Springboard sold 6,000 bags of firewood through Mitre 10, which helped to fund the development of work and social skills in young people engaged in youth justice programs.
Established in 2002, Springboard
was initially only able to support seven severely troubled youth, but has now helped hundreds of teenagers and young people.
www.springboard.org.nz