David Jordan, The Mover’s Deputy Editor, braved the delights of the Park Royal Estate in London to find out a little more about a new moving group that has emerged in recent years and is inviting new partners to join.
The London-based Master Removers Group Ltd, run by removals entrepreneurs Tim Bloch CEO, Anthony Ward Thomas and Charles Rickards, is inviting companies with a well proven track-record for service, to consider joining their ranks. Tim, Anthony and Charles have been in the moving industry for most of their working lives and have worked together for over 15 years. Among other achievements, in 2012 they took over the then bankrupt Aussie Man & Van and used their expertise and business acumen to return it to success and profitability.
The three formed the Master Removers Group in 2014 to offer business owners looking to sell or develop their business, the opportunity to access finance and marketing expertise and gain the security of being part of a larger organisation. The Group currently has seven members and this year will exceed £27 million turnover with an estimated profit of £5 million.
Charles explained, “There are a lot of well-established removals companies out there that have reached a point where the owners need help to meet the challenges facing their business. Perhaps they want to retire and have no one to pass the business onto; or they need finance to buy new Euro 6 vehicles, expand the warehouse, or maybe introduce self storage. Every case is different, so we take a flexible approach and tailor our involvement to suit what the business owner wants.”
Anthony added, “Some may simply want to sell their businesses while others want to continue as normal but with the added security of being part of something bigger.”
Business owners joining the Group retain their own company branding, become shareholders in the overall operation, and receive a share of the profits. “Everyone is involved in the success of the Group - it’s a sort of John Lewis arrangement,” said Anthony. “We presently have 28 shareholders and declare dividends every quarter based on our profits, so everybody gets a share of the action.”
Maintaining consistently high standards of service across the Group is regarded as a priority. “It’s important that the Master Removers Group brand is seen and recognised as a badge of quality by our customers,” said Anthony. “Regardless of which member company they use we want customers to receive the same high-standard of service throughout their move.”
So far, all Master Removers Group companies are based in London and the south of England, but the directors are also interested in hearing from established companies in other parts of the country that may be able to benefit from becoming part of their company.
Picture: (left to right) Charles Rickards and Anthony Ward Thomas.
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