Following a “substantial investment”, Parker Building Supplies, Chandlers Building Supplies and Fairalls – part of the Independent Builders Merchants Group (IBMG) – are launching an in-branch tool hire service.
The first branches to offer tool hire will be Petworth in October, followed by Godstone and then Eastbourne later in the month. In total the IBMG states there will at least six branches within the Parkers, Fairalls and Chandlers network offering tool hire by the end of the year.
Simon Gibbons (pictured), who previously in his career managed multiple sites for hire businesses such as A-Plant and within the Travis Perkins and Grafton Groups, will lead the new service at Parkers, Fairalls and Chandlers. Simon said: “This is an exciting development for the business. It will provide our builder clients with any equipment, including specialist tools and machinery.
“We will concentrate on offering small tools and equipment – the fast-moving items that our customers typically need. We will also have strong cross-hire partnerships with other hirers for larger plant and machines.”
The new tool hire offering, integrated within the merchants’ branches, will have two dedicated hire staff at each location. Specialist workshops and compounds have been constructed at each location, along with washdown stations and a new computer system. New staff recruitment is said to be in full swing, and equipment sourced for all branches.
Chandlers, Parker Building Supplies and Fairalls, plus Stamco Timber are part of the Independent Builders Merchant Group (IBMG) boasting 39 branches in the south east of England and the Midlands.
