Q & A: Daren Hare

26 February 2021

Daren Hare is managing director of the busy independent Hares Hire Services in Essex. He founded the operation in 2005 in Upminster and the business moved to its current facility at Rainham in 2014. 

How’s business? 

Very good at the moment and I am cautiously optimistic. We had our best November and December ever, and January was considerably up on last year.

What products are in particular demand at the moment? 

The usual seasonal products and our powered access machines. We added three Haulotte Star 10s in December and they are in constant demand. I haven’t seen them in the yard yet. Likewise we bought Snorkel 4732 and 3226 scissors in September and I haven’t seen them either.

What are you most proud of in the past 12 months? 

The fact that I managed to keep my team safe. I worked primarily on my own for six weeks with just one of the fitters coming in, as and when, from the beginning of April until the middle of May. Also, to a man every single one of them was ready to come back as they were needed. 

What is the biggest challenge facing your business or the wider industry? 

Bad debt. I think there are potentially a number of contractors who are just about surviving and a number of these will not see out the year, either due to the pandemic or just using that as an excuse. Credit control is definitely a priority and without doubt the biggest challenge.

And what’s the biggest opportunity? 

A bigger depot. I am looking for new premises that will enable me to expand the powered access fleet further and also to run larger vehicles. 

Who or what inspires you? 

I like to read autobiographies of entrepreneurs like Alan Sugar, Richard Branson and Simon Jordan who have, in the main, started with nothing. I find them inspiring.

What annoys/frustrates you? 

Poor service. This frustrates me hugely, and I could probably write a book about my experiences of it in our industry.

How do you relax after a hard day?

I think my wife Mandy would say I generally fall asleep on the sofa! But I have enjoyed the time at home with the family over the past year. Like most people I suppose, our evenings would usually be spent running the kids around, so being in together over lockdown has been good. We rarely used  to have dinner together due to the different activities everyone had, so it has made a nice change. As an added bonus, my son Charlie managed to pass his driving test between lockdowns, so my taxi services will be required less in the future. 

What was your favourite school subject?

PE, particularly football, and maths.

If things had been different, what other career might you have chosen?

I often say if I had my time again, I would have been a pilot. I probably wouldn’t be very busy right now though!

What’s the best piece of advice that you’ve ever been given, or that you would pass on to others?

One thing that has always stood out is, “You’re only as good as when your not there,” meaning that my whole team have to be prepared to do what I would do.

Do you follow a particular sport and/or team? 

Football is a huge part of my life and I am a season ticket holder at Arsenal. Thankfully, I get to suffer seeing them in front of the TV at the moment rather than at the Emirates Stadium. I am missing watching Charlie play at the moment due to no football at his level of the game – he plays as a centre back for Grays Athletic. He is actually about to go to the USA on a soccer scholarship so we’ll be spending the next four years getting out there as much as we can. He’s had a number of offers, so we’re not sure where exactly he’ll be going.

What new skill would you like to learn?

Definitely a foreign language. Spanish would be useful on holiday. 

What are you most looking forward to once life returns to normal? 

Holidays, pub, restaurant, Executive Hire Show. I think that is the right order!

What’s the secret of success? 

Hard work and good customer service. 

Finally, is there anything you would like to add about the business, the current trading outlook or future plans? 

There are very challenging times ahead and all we can do is continue to do what we have always done, but push even harder.