Illumin8 keeps shining

21 July 2020

Careful management choices and commercial flexibility have helped Illumin8 Lights adapt to the changed trading environment in the wake of the pandemic.

The Essex-based specialist hirer of mobile lighting towers would normally be busy throughout the summer, supplying machines for music festivals, sports fixtures, local shows and other events – a market that has been hit extraordinarily hard by Covid-19.

Managing Director Neil Fenwick, however, tells me that the company has successfully targeted other markets and has found new opportunities.

“Normally in the winter months we take on business in industrial sectors like construction, rail and highways before the start of the events season, and we have been concentrating more in that area,” he says.

“We actually had our best January, February and March since the business was founded four years ago. New customers include distribution centres that are adding more warehouses in response to the increase in online retailing, HGV lorry parks, data centres, civil engineering firms and utilities.

Being adaptable

“May and June obviously dipped with the impact of the lockdown on events, but we continue to find new business. As a specialist independent, it is perhaps easier for us to adapt and to be flexible,” Neil continues.

“We have postponed the opening of our second depot in Retford but we are still planning for growth next year. The most important thing is that all our personnel have stayed safe and well, and we’ll keep seeking out new opportunities.”