Removals is without a doubt a seasonal industry. Peaks and troughs in business are inevitable, but it is a daily struggle for removals companies to mange their businesses in such a changeable environment. We’ve put together a list of possibilities for keeping a removals workforce strong without breaking the bank.
Owning and running a removals company is a financial and HR challenge. In peak moving seasons, such as the summer, many removals companies are fully booked months in advance requiring an army of vehicles and expertly trained drivers, surveyors, packers and removers to man them. But, what happens when the season quietens and the demand is no longer there? Vehicles doing nothing but taking up space and idle employees are a big problem. So what can removals companies do to reduce this issue?
Personnel number is a grey area that requires some serious consideration; too few and peak season will be a struggle but too many and slow periods will leave you paying staff for doing not very much. There are obvious solutions (short contracts, part-time work) but what about something that’s a bit more outside of the box? While the UK peak season tends to be between June and September, this may not be the case in another country, where their removals industry are facing similar problems with staffing. So, why not take a hint from companies such as GB Liners who have been exporting their staff to Australia and New Zealand since 2004. By operating a similar ‘employee exchange’ you can satisfy your employment needs whilst also boosting the morale of your employees and giving them the opportunity to travel. The other advantage is that both parties involved can be guaranteed to have well-trained staff for the short periods required.
Vehicles are then another issue. Over the past few years an increasing trend in the use of shipping containers has highlighted a beneficial solution. The containers are efficient; stacking saves on space when the containers are not in use and they function well as storage, an area many removals companies are branching into. Rather than goods having to be loaded and then unloaded from the lorry if they’re going for storage, the container itself can just be moved as needed. Containers are also frequently being sprayed in company colours to strengthen corporate image as well as being fitted with slide access doors and roller shutters.
Compromise is clearly key here – no one wants to lose out on business, but at the same time no one wants financial drains on their company. A little bit of creative thinking can go a long way.