Notice Board
SOMETHING OLD , SOMETHING NEW
Happy New Year and welcome to 2025 ’ s very first issue of The Locksmith Journal . There ’ s so much we want to share with you over the next 12 months ; to continue building on the success of 2024 , carry on forging relationships and nurturing friendships in the industry . So , what do I mean by ‘ something old , something new ’?
» ‘ SOMETHING NEW ’ MAY SEEM LIKE AN OBVIOUS reference ; it ’ s a brand new year . We are a month into it already , but does anyone else feel like January has flown by ( or should that be ‘ blown by ’ as I sit and write this with Storm Eowyn in full force )? We are always looking at new ways to bring news to you through the magazine .
So , while January presents the perfect opportunity for a fresh start , here at The Locksmith Journal , we ’ ve been on a path of change for the past few years . We like to do something new every month , explore new opportunities , meet new people , hear new stories . Maybe there ’ s nothing new about being new here !
Joking aside , we understand that change and development are essential to the industry . That ’ s what we strive for too ; continually evolving so that we are always renewing and refreshing .
But we can ’ t do that without some ‘ old ’ things as well ; by that I mean experience , knowledge , connections and bonds that have been built over the years .
I always believe that locksmithing provides the perfect blend of old and new ; modern methods and classic craftmanship . I think there are few industries that can boast this and it ’ s what makes our work here so exciting . Through articles and interviews , we get to hear about locksmiths who have been in the industry for decades and brand-new starters in the sector – plus everyone in between . How lucky are we ?
I consider myself a beginner too – having started here at the magazine ( working on one of our events at Lockex ) a mere eight years ago . I haven ’ t even reached my decade milestone yet and I have so much still to learn , but I ’ ve already been here long enough to know that it ’ s never same old , same old in locksmith news .
See you next time , Gemma
HAPPY NEW YEAR - WHAT A GREAT START IT ’ S BEEN …
» HELLO 2025 ! I HOPE YOU ’ VE ALL HAD A wonderful Christmas and here ’ s to a happy , healthy and successful New Year . The real-life locksmith stories are going down a treat , so much so , that we ’ re ‘ revvingup ’ ( for the auto locksmiths ) and ‘ bumping-up ’ ( for the domestics )! We ’ ve had locksmiths recommend other locksmiths in the trade , give newbies the heads-up about TLJ , tool and lock suppliers , as well as training companies getting involved . Even the shy ones are coming out of their shells and speaking to us , and it ’ s wonderful to hear everyone ’ s unique story .
Ex-Army pals , Stuart Game and Mark Santi , cofounded Eight Ball Engineering a locksmith tool design company who created the famous Ultra Pick – if you didn ’ t get one in your Christmas stocking , then speak to Stuart or Mark . They ’ ve recently formed Certified Locksmiths & Security offering excellent hands-on training courses on mortice lock picking , non-destructive entry and safe / vault opening .
We ’ ve covered the ingenious idea of producing a young readers ’ book on locksmithing . Hear how mumto-be Natahsa Pugh , Sales Director of APECS , and father of three , Richard Tracz , Marketing Manager , pooled their knowledge and creative skills to help nurture the next generation of locksmiths !
It was a great pleasure to interview Daniel Pulley of Crosskeys Carpentry & Locksmiths , in South Wales , who offers an interesting combi of trades . Also , Sam Thorpe of Samson Locksmiths , in Leeds , a newbie to the trade who is getting to know all the right people such as John from Solid as a Lock .
I think we can all agree that opening a store requires a whole new level of commitment and risk . But previous snowboarding fanatic Jon Bentley of JP Locksmiths , in Cheadle , is perfectly ‘ au fait ’ with risk - why stick to the blue runs when you can do black ? Jon shared with us how having a physical base is incredibly beneficial . Find out why …
By the time this edition lands January will almost be over , and we can look forward to lighter , and ( hopefully ) warmer days . Thank you to everyone who has taken part so far , if you would like to join our interview list to receive some TLJ coverage ( or fame ) get in-touch . Yes – it ’ s totally free !
Get in touch with Wendy at wendy @ cvgroup . co . uk
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JANUARY 2025
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