Demand goes up for Geelong Access Hire

WHAT started as a side hustle for a former engineer has grown into a successful machinery hire business earning plaudits for its outstanding customer service.

Geelong Access Hire has experienced rapid growth since starting in 2020, and has been rewarded as a finalist in its first attempt at the Geelong Chamber of Commerce’s Geelong Business Excellence Awards (GBEAs), presented by LBW Business Wealth + Advisors.

The business’ director Chris Carney was working as a trainer for worksite machinery when he decided to purchase equipment to rent across Geelong job sites, but quickly saw an explosion in demand.

Geelong Access Hire now rents dozens of scissor lifts, boom lifts and cherry pickers across the region.

“We set up just over three years ago. It was only meant to be a side hustle – we started with two scissor lifts and a trailer,” he said.

“We set the business up two weeks before COVID hit, which was a bit painful but we got through.

 

“We were one of the lucky ones, with how the building industry could carry on while COVID was happening.

“We thought we’d only have those two machines, and then two machines turned into 10 machines.

“We’ve grown it now in the space of three years to 66 machines, and we’ve got we’ve got two trucks on the road for transport.”

Mr Carney said he prides himself on the customer service his business provides, which he said had earned it customer loyalty that had been integral to its growth.

“Whether that’s the phone calls, the customers booking the jobs in, the invoicing; if there’s any issue they’ll come and deal with me and we’ll always go above and beyond to care for those customers.

“And I feel like the customers like that personal touch.

 

“I think that’s what’s helped us grow as well, obviously we wouldn’t be able to grow as much as we have, without those customers.

“So we appreciate them always using us.”

Mr Carney said he’d enjoyed his first experience with the GBEAs and was grateful for his business’ achievements to be recognised with a finalist nomination.

“It’s a really well organised event, the communication for it all has been fantastic.

“The social media side has been great exposure for us… because even though we’re three years old there’s still some that don’t know we’re around.”

Mr Carney and the Geelong Access Hire team will be among the crowd to hear BEA category winners announced at a finals event at GMHBA Stadium on October 19.

For more information and to book tickets, head to gbea.com.au