Notice Board
What I Would Change If there’ s one thing I’ d change in the industry, it’ s the lack of regulation. Some so-called locksmiths charge ridiculous prices – £ 1500 for something that should be £ 200. There’ s no regulation like there is with plumbers or electricians.
Advice to Newbies When new locksmiths enter the trade, it’ s easy to get misled thinking they’ ll earn loads straight away because someone on the training course told them that, but it’ s a slow build. I’ ve seen many newbies come and go. I even meet some of the new local locksmiths for a coffee and try to help them. Course tutors advise them to approach letting agents but it’ s tough to get on their books if they already have an experienced locksmith they trust.
When I first started there were four or five locksmiths near me – now there are only two who have been established longer than me. Over the years I’ ve seen many newbies come and go.
It’ s easy to become obsessed by Google rankings but I don’ t rely on them, I rarely check my rank. The £ 49 callout‘ so called locksmiths’ dominate the top positions anyway. My success so far is due to my good reputation and repeat business from regular clients.
Relationship Building
My business is built on having strong relationships with letting agents, house builders, and property managers. Keys are easily lost, and I suppose I make a living from that bit of misfortune. One site manager once left an entire box of keys on top of a skip next to the site office while he searched for the office key. He forgot to move the box, the skip was taken, and suddenly 14 houses needed new locks. That was a good day for me! I don’ t deal with safes or vehicles – I stick to door mechanisms, cylinders, locks, hinges, tilt-and-turns, and sliding patio doors. I don’ t undertake full-glass replacements or do entire houses, but I’ ll replace glass panels on a door if I’ m doing a lock change. I use brands like Versa and Asec and I get my supplies mainly from Duffels, JMA, Kings Solutions, Aldridge and Davenport- Burgess.
Bargain Hunt
When I first started, I bought a cheap key machine for about £ 300. Eventually, the local hardware shop closed, and I bought their machines and a bunch of blanks for £ 500 – an absolute bargain. Now I’ ve got five machines between my workshop and my van. One was even given to me by a cobbler friend. Most of my equipment has been picked up second-hand – auctions, closures – I’ ve been in the right place at the right time. I’ ve still got stock from a hardware shop auction I went to eight years ago; everything from old mortice locks to random plumbing bits. I stored it all in my mother-in-law’ s garage and sold off what I didn’ t need. The rest still comes in handy even now. I only had three days of locksmith training at the start – I’ ve learned everything else on the job. I’ m hands-on. Working in the brick factory taught me how to use welders, plasma cutters – so I naturally took to fixing mechanisms and figuring things out. Local locksmiths often call me for advice
or parts – I’ ve helped most of the ones in the area at some point.
Mr Burrlocks & Marketing
I nearly called the business Burrlocks, but it didn’ t sound quite right on the phone if you know what I mean! Still, some of my customers call me Mr Burrlocks. I didn’ t want a silly name for my business, so I chose Taurus Locks being a Taurean. I even designed my own logo – with just lines and curves – I’ ve improved on it a few times, but it’ s been the same for 14 years now. It’ s on my T-shirts and my branding. It works! My customers love it too.
I post on Facebook when I get the chance – nothing flashy. My work is about relationships, trust, and doing a good job. That’ s what keeps me going.
I’ m turning 60 in June and going on a Mediterranean cruise with my wife to celebrate. I’ ve no plans to retire – maybe scale things down a bit – but I’ ll keep going as long as I can.
07775 423744 brianburr @ tauruslocks. co. uk www. tauruslocks. co. uk
MAY 2025
13 locksmithjournal. co. uk