TOOL HIRE TARANAKI - CELEBRATING 10 YEARS IN HIRE

When a back injury forced builder Daniel Lock off the tools, he and wife Charlotte decided to hire them out.

The result is Tool Hire Taranaki, a successful New Plymouth company built on resilience, repeat business and community spirit, which turns 10 in September.

Before that, he spent more than 10 years running his own successful company, Daniel Lock Builders.

But everything changed one morning when he injured his back. “It was a prolapsed disc, L4 and L5, and I had to have surgery,” he says.

He recovered, but a year later did it again and wasn’t able to return to the physically demanding work of a builder.

With four young children and Charlotte staying at home, the couple faced an uncertain future. But instead of giving in to despair, they saw an opportunity.

“Dan had always had a lot of tools, and his friends would borrow them in exchange for a box of beers. So, when we didn’t know what he was going to do for a future career, we decided to open a hire shop,” says Charlotte.

The Locks moved fast.

Within a month, they had a website, business cards, and a logo, and they’d found a small premises next to Snappers in Strandon.

On September 1, 2014, Tool Hire Taranaki opened its doors.

“We started with just Dan, me, and his 85-year-old dad who was working there. And now we’ve got a staff of 14,” says Charlotte.

That includes a nephew and manager Carl Fox, who is also a builder.

The business quickly outgrew its first location, and within five months, they moved to a larger site in Fitzroy.

Their hire offerings also rapidly expanded.

“We started with one digger, and now we have over 20. The fleet of equipment has grown to more than 20 times the size we had when we opened,” says Daniel. Now, they offer over 1,500 different tools and equipment, including scissor lifts, landscaping tools, and trailers. They also have a fleet of more than 125 trailered items. Their client base is primarily made up of tradies, who account for about 80% of their business, with DIYers making up the remaining 20%.

The Locks have also expanded their business premises, buying two neighbouring properties to increase their footprint, one of which came with a billboard company, which they’ve named BSEEN Media.

They are now renovating the building that houses the billboard to create new offices, a showroom, and a staff room.

“We’re really excited about this renovation. We’ve been working in a very tiny office with very little space for the staff, so this is a big step for us,” says Charlotte.

While the business has grown, the Locks remain hands-on.

Daniel manages the day-to-day operations and is often the face customers see when they walk through the door, while Charlotte handles the background work, including social media and advertising.

“Dan’s on the floor, and I’m behind the scenes,” says Charlotte.

Their commitment to customer service has been a key factor in their success.

“We pride ourselves on having a really fast service to get people through and get what they need and out the door because time is money, especially on the job site,” says Daniel.

“Already today, someone’s nail gun had broken down, and they came to us. There it was, waiting for them to help their day out and get the job done,” he says.

Tool Hire Taranaki also offers a delivery service, making it easier for their clients to get the equipment they need, when they need it.

The Locks pride themselves in providing top quality trusted brands. “We have fantastic relationships with our suppliers who we are loyal to,” she says.

“We’ve had many of the same customers from the very beginning, for 10 years, and we truly value the support all of them have given us. Our customers come first.”

In 2016, the business won the Hire Excellence Award from the Hire Industry Association of New Zealand.

The Locks’ journey is one of turning challenges into opportunities – and making it a priority to support the community that supports them.

“We’re passionate about supporting our local community – schools, sports teams, events etc. We’ve been platinum sponsors of the New Plymouth Operatic Society for four years as well as being a major sponsor of the Steelformers Taranaki Airs,” says Charlotte.

“We have sponsored hundreds of organisations and events over the years.”

As they look to the future, with upgraded premises and their 10-year anniversary, the Locks are excited about the next chapter for Tool Hire Taranaki.

“When I was a builder, I thought that’s my journey for life,” says Daniel.

“I never thought there was another option. And we’d never dreamed we’d be owning a hire shop, let alone having one for 10 years. But it just shows you, we really enjoy what we do, because 10 years has flown by very fast.”

Contact: 06 757 8665 or info@tht.co.nz