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Removals Norfolk | Hamiltons 25th Anniversary Interview

Removals Norfolk | Hamiltons Removals 25^th anniversary interview with Mike Sawyer discusses the journey the company has been on over the last quarter century.

As Hamiltons Removals reaches its landmark 25^th anniversary – a remarkable achievement in any industry – Mike Sawyer, Managing Director of Hamiltons, discusses the journey his company has been on over the last quarter of a century.

What were you doing in 1993 and what had you been doing up until that point?

In 1993, we had retail furniture stores in Bury St Edmunds and Eye, Suffolk. Previously I was a director of my father’s furnishing business.

What made you decide to start a removals company?

My father Brian had run small removal companies since the early 1960s. Firstly, in conjunction with his career as an auctioneer and later, as part of his retail furniture outlets in Ipswich, Norwich and Dovercourt.

Removals were a good fit with the furniture stores which had vehicles and delivery men available. Independent furnishings retailers were struggling to compete with the larger out-of-town outlets and the company looked more and more towards the removal sector.

Once Hamiltons Removals was up and running, how did your family grow the business?

My father Brian, my brother Nick and myself together with shareholder, Paul Walsh, were completely hands-on and totally dedicated to the removal business. We were able to grow the business by diversification.

Initially, Hamiltons were a domestic removals company. Today, we also have a strong European operation, together with deep-sea container and groupage moves. Commercial and office moves grow year-on-year and our moves for the MOD personnel remain constant.

Is Brian still involved in the company?

My father Brian is still involved in the company and is our current chairman.

Have there been any setbacks along the way?

Yes, we have had setbacks. In 2007, we suffered a major flood at our Harleston warehouse. It could not have come at a worse time; mid-August, which is our busiest time of year!

Have you noticed any major changes to the removals industry over the last 25 years? How has Hamiltons adapted to these changes?

The financial crisis in 2007/8 had a major impact on the removal industry and we saw our UK market decrease by 57%. This resulted in pricing being more important than ever to the public and we found ourselves striking a balance between providing competitive pricing and maintaining the quality of service our customers have come to expect – which, for us, is a major priority.

The company has always recognised the need to constantly monitor, change and improve in this competitive industry. Extra revenue streams are as important as the main part of the business. The latest addition to the company is its ‘Safe ’N Stored with Hamiltons’ brand which offers self-storage rooms at its Harleston headquarters, container storage at the industrial estate in Suffolk, caravan and motorhome storage, as well as our recently-added indoor classic and vintage car storage. Other services available are insurance, house cleaning and currency exchange, which all form an important part of Hamiltons’ business model.

You’ve grown the company over 25 years – where do you see the company in another 25 years?

Hamiltons is in tune with the advancements in technology and this year, we took the decision to invest and manage our own IT systems in-house. Social media forms an important part of our marketing strategy and in February this year, we filmed a promotional video called ‘The Perfectly Orchestrated Move’.

This move into video marketing seemed natural following the introduction of video surveys. These surveys can be carried out 24/7 and have been well-received by clients that, for one reason or another, cannot accommodate a survey by one of the company’s surveyors.

What achievements from the last 25 years are you most proud of?

We are very proud of the number of local people we have been able to employ over the past 25 years. Many came as young lads from the local high school and have stayed; some driving our 40-ton road trains all over Europe!

How many vehicles do you have in the fleet and how many people does Hamiltons Removals now employ?

The Company has grown over the past 25 years. We currently employ 54 people with a fleet of 25 vehicles.

After 25 years, I expect you’ve seen every kind of removals job under the sun. Can you remember any notable, funny or remarkable jobs over the years?

During the past 25 years, we have encountered moves from the bizarre to the spectacular! A recent move (Berkshire to Edinburgh) included a pair of geese that required three comfort breaks en route with a period of exercise. Walking up and down a layby with two geese on leads attracted a high level of amusement!

This summer, we were privileged to complete a move costing in excess of £70,000. The entire contents of a substantial English country manor house were packed and moved from the UK to destinations in Scandinavia, the Caribbean, France and London. Such a move would have been beyond our comprehension 25 years ago.