Bradfords builds on success

17 August 2021

Having been busy last summer, it’s proving to be the same this year for Yeovil-based Bradfords Tool Hire. In fact, trading is at record levels for both the operation and its parent merchant business Bradfords Building Supplies. 

“People have again been working or spending time at home in the garden, saving money by not going abroad on holiday and deciding to make improvements like porches, patios and extensions,” tool hire trading director Keith Hallam tells me. 

“And because our core customer base is the jobbing builder and the small contractor, we are busy supplying them. If you want a decent tradesman to do a project in our region, you’re probably looking at this time next year. They’re flat out.

“Also we gained a lot of new customers last year during the first lockdown when many other merchants and hirers closed their doors. We only shut for an afternoon to put Covid-19 Health & Safety measures in place and people came to us as a result. They liked our kit and our service, and they’ve stayed with us since,” says Keith. 

“We’ve kept investing in equipment – when we can get it. Our capex budget for this financial year is the biggest it’s ever been as we reinvest to grow the business even more.

“We’ve been buying across the board, from wallpaper strippers, compaction plates and access towers, to mini excavators and compact dumpers. We now have approximately 180 items of plant in the fleet so we’re certainly moving up the league table. 

“We’ve also got excellent staff. There’s a lot of competence, knowledge and experience amongst the team.” 

Bradfords currently has 28 hire branches. Given the current level of business and future prospects, it’s not surprising that expansion is on the cards with more merchant and hire outlets likely next year.  

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