From the Editor
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO US !
It ’ s less than one week until my birthday as I sit down to write this month ’ s intro . Next year will be a personal milestone , but professionally , this month we celebrate 100 issues of The Locksmith Journal . And it ’ s a very special occasion because TLJ is the first magazine I started working on at Clearview Group , having joined the team to help promote Lockex 2018 . Without a doubt , the last 12 months have been some of the best magazines we ’ ve ever put out , and while I ’ d love to take the credit , it ’ s down to you , our readers , that have made the last year so special and the last 100 issues possible .
» I WAS TALKING TO SOMEONE THIS WEEKEND AND jokingly said that the best journalists ‘ write like no one is reading ’ ( much like we are often told to ‘ dance like no one is watching ’). Of course , as publishers that ’ s a ridiculous notion to have , we have to have readers , or they ’ d be no point to the magazine at all . In truth , the reader is the most important part of everything we do . But since we turned to our readers to become our ‘ writers ’ too , we ’ ve never looked back .
Who better to be in a locksmithing magazine than the locksmiths themselves ? Who can give the best advice ? Tell us the best tips ? Offer help to beginners and have the best stories to tell ? It ’ s you . Every issue of The Locksmith Journal that we produce is dedicated to you all – customers and contributors , interviewees . And to all the readers that have a story to tell but haven ’ t been in touch yet , we still have plenty more magazine pages to fill so what are you waiting for ?
I was interested to see what else is turning 100 this year ( in age , rather than editions ) but a few of these made me smile ; the Winter Olympics , the first television images , the Greenwich time ‘ pips ’, Adidas , MGM , Telefónica ; basically a very mixed bag , but a group we ’ re happy to have a tenuous connection with none-the-less .
All that ’ s left to say is a very big thank you to all our readers , writers , customers , contributors and every member of the ( past and present ) team that ’ s worked on any issue from one to 100 .
Here ’ s to many , many more . See you for magazine 101 , Gemma
CELEBRATING OUR 100TH ISSUE – WE ’ RE FEELING THE LOVE
» THIS MONTH , WE ’ RE REALLY FEELING THE LOVE IN our 100th issue . Not only do locksmiths like reading The Locksmith Journal , and checking us out on social media , they tell us that they rely on us too to keep them ‘ in the know ’.
Locksmiths always tell it like it is and we appreciate that each and every journey into locksmithing is different , and sometimes it can lead to other things … Like in the case of Able2Access a business that started off in locksmithing , but now supplies mechanical parts and hardware for UPVC windows , door locks , multi-point locking systems and biometric locks . The company was bought out by former employees : Sarah Farrington and Brett Howard , both of whom loved working for the business , and now are driving it forward .
We had the great pleasure of interviewing Gary Taylorson of Surelock Homes , based in Cumbria . New to the trade , joining later in his career at the grand age of 50 , Gary has finally satisfied his desire to ‘ find a trade ’. Gary ’ s company name , Surelock Homes , is a hit with everyone who hears it , and he ’ s proud to do all of his own social media marketing , happily sharing his top tips .
We also captured the journey of Ben Murray from Indy Locks , South Wales , in an interview that uncovered the ups and downs of his journey and his passion for locksmithing . This award-winning locksmith is proud to serve his community and has the utmost compassion for people . A troubled teenager himself , he now gives motivational talks to children with behavioural issues at a local school . Ben could well be nurturing the next generation . The children have great fun cutting keys in his van . He told us how he relies on The Locksmith Journal to keep him updated on products and tools , because he doesn ’ t attend the shows due to a lack of time . Also , how humbled he is to be interviewed by us …
Thank you to everyone who has taken part in this month ’ s issue and to date so far . Would you like to take part ? Let me interview you and write a story on your business for our next edition of Locksmith Journal - it ’ s totally free-of-charge . All you need to do is get in-touch and spare 20 minutes of your time to tell us : locksmith lifehacks , top tips and advice . How you market yourselves effectively ? How did you get into the trade ? Any funny stories to tell ?
Tell it like it is : stories in locksmithing are amazing . Email me on wendy @ cvgroup . co . uk
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SEPTEMBER 2024
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