TRANSPORT
Magnum Rentals executive assistant Amber Antonopoulos with one of the firm ’ s vans
DRIVING
FORCE
WORDS : DAVE ROBSON PICTURE : CHRIS BOOTH
Van hire service is another string to storage firm ’ s bow
Storage isn ’ t the only service offered by a thriving Teesside firm . For not only does Magnum
Storage offer a variety of solutions , ranging from indoor storage rooms to large outdoor shipping containers , it rents vans out too under its Magnum Rentals banner .
And as the demand for van hire grows , Magnum is confident its price match promise , range of vehicles and seven-daya-week availability will continue to keep its vehicles out on the road .
Since starting up 10 years ago , Magnum Storage – with premises in Haverton Hill Road , Billingham , and Brenda Road , Hartlepool – has become the umbrella organisation for several offshoots , including the van hire section , Magnum Rentals . The other sections include : > Cube Storage – an indoor storage room .
> Cube Packaging – where you can buy moving packs , without relying on boxes from the supermarket .
> Magnum Containers – sells shipping containers .
But the Magnum Rentals van hire section , which was set up five years ago and is based at The Cube Storage on Haverton Hill Road , Billingham – continues to prove popular , with its strong fleet comprising a mix of caddy , small , midsized , large and Luton tail-lift vans . And with more people looking to move house , the demand looks set to continue .
Magnum Storage office manager Philip Ingram told Tees Business : “ The vans have got a big boost post-Covid – they are always out on hire . This weekend , for example , we were fully booked up by the Monday for the Saturday .
“ Moving house or effectively moving anything is a headache , nine times out of 10 . But if you can get the storage and the van rental all in one place , as we offer here , it makes it a lot easier and takes quite a lot of weight off people ’ s shoulders .
“ It ’ s all about making everything easy and accessible for people who are moving or are using our facility . We ’ re a one-stop shop .”
Prices and availability are two major plus points when you deal with Magnum , says Philip .
He said : “ We hire vans on a 24-hour basis or longer . The lowest is 24 hours , with a flat rate , whatever size the vehicle . We also do a weekend deal where you can pick it up on Friday at 4.30pm and bring it back by 9am Monday – so it ’ s two days rental , but you get the rest of Friday and the first part of Monday morning free . And then there ’ s our week deal , where you ’ re effectively paying for five days but get it for seven .
“ All our van hires have unlimited mileage , too . With a lot of companies , you ’ re capped on your mileage , but ours is unlimited and comes with fully comprehensive insurance and breakdown cover .”
Being open on Sunday has also been popular . Philip said : “ A lot of companies are closed on Sunday so you ’ re either effectively forced to have the van for another 24 hours which you may not need , or you may need that van just for a short period of time on a Sunday to pick something up , and we ’ re open for you to get one .”
And as for the future ? Philip says : “ We are constantly looking at whether we need to increase our fleet , or other avenues we could potentially go down . Drop-sided vans , for example , might be something we consider .
“ But we continue to get really good feedback from people . They all think it ’ s a great service and highly competitive .
“ And we always do a ‘ like-for-like ’ quote – so if you can go to any of our competitors and come back to us with a genuine quote , if it beats ours , we ’ ll match it .”
Visit magnumrentals . co . uk or Call 01642 433626 .
The voice of business in the Tees region | 97