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Don’ t Cry Over Spilt Milk: Prime Locksmiths
It was great to chat with Sam Gregory of Prime Locksmiths, based in Sheffield. He explained how serving the local area allows him to provide a fast, reliable service at a competitive price- something the big national call centre companies simply can’ t match. Looking back, locksmithing was always“ on the cards” for Sam. His secret to success? Leaving every customer satisfied and replacing any spilt milk.
My Journey into Locksmithing
Before becoming a locksmith, I worked as a curtain wall fitter for a company in Sheffield called Clearline, travelling all over the UK for jobs. After years in that industry, I took a break to travel, spending time in Thailand with family. When I returned, I was keen to try something new, so I worked with my brother restoring classic cars. It wasn’ t planned, but I ended up staying for four years and really enjoyed it while it lasted.
However, things changed when the business was taken over. The new owner wasn’ t hands-on, and the workload became overwhelming. At the same time, the classic car scene was declining, and both my brother and I were made redundant. Luckily, I had already completed my locksmith training, and with my experience in doors and windows, I decided to give it a real shot. Looking back, the signs were always there- when I was a child, my dad worked in a scrapyard and would bring home old car keys, which fascinated me. Years later, my cousin had a break-in, and I happened to have the perfect spare door handle in my garage. Everything just clicked.
My USPs Unlike larger national firms, I don’ t charge a call-out fee, and there’ s no VAT to pay because I’ m not VAT-registered, which saves my customers 20 % right away. I operate 24 / 7, so whether it’ s an emergency or a scheduled appointment, I’ m always here to help.
Getting Training & Starting Out as a Locksmith
I did my locksmith training in Manchester and, once I had learned the ropes, I started taking-on small jobs. The physical side such as fixing doors and lock mechanisms wasn’ t an issue for me, but lock picking and marketing were completely new to me. Getting work at first was a challenge, which made me doubt whether this was the right path. But I stuck with it, and over time, things started to flow. Now, three years in, I still have quiet weeks, but then mad weeks where I can’ t get to every job. Locksmithing is a business of ups and downs- you take the rough with the smooth.
One of the biggest challenges is being on call 24 / 7. It’ s Sod’ s Law when you’ ve had a quiet day and you’ re about to go to bed your phone will ring with an emergency! When someone needs your help, you just can’ t turn them away, you feel duty-bound to help and you need to make a living. It’ s all part of the game.
Funny Moments: Don’ t Cry Over Spilt Milk
One of the funniest moments happened when my girlfriend tagged along on a job. She works in retail, so we rarely get midweek days off together. We were heading to Matlock for a mini break, but I had a quick morning job on the way. It was supposed to be a simple cylinder change, but it turned into a bigger job. As I was leaving, I accidentally tripped over the customer’ s dog and kicked over several glass bottles of milk on the doorstep! My girlfriend was giggling, and I was trying to hold in my laughter while cleaning up the mess. The customer was very understanding, and I bought her some fresh milk as an apology.
Why I Love Locksmithing
There’ s a lot to love about locksmithing, but I have a real soft spot for helping elderly customers. A little while ago, I got a call from a couple in their 80s who
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APRIL 2025
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