Notice Board
Family First: Raising Kids While Building a Business
It hasn’ t always been easy. Locksmithing is a rollercoaster, you can be busy one week and dead the next. But we’ ve made it work as a family. Both Harvey and Logan have done work experience with us. They’ ve seen what it’ s like behind the scenes, the hard graft, the late nights, and the satisfaction of helping someone locked out of their home. If they want to learn the trade, the door is open, but we’ ve always said they should find their own way, and they individual interests to pursue.
The Voice Behind the Brand
I handle all the marketing, customer calls, and admin. That first conversation with a customer is everything. Most people don’ t understand what’ s wrong with their lock and they’ re worried they’ ll be ripped off.
I’ ll walk them through it. If they say their uPVC door isn’ t locking, I’ ll ask them to lift the handle, check the alignment, and listen for the click. Often, it’ s not the lock, it’ s the mechanism or gearbox, or it just needs adjusting. Some uPVC firms would just sell them a new door; we aim to fix it a fraction of the cost. That honesty has kept customers coming back for over 15 years.
How AI Is Changing the Game Technology has shifted everything, especially in marketing. SEO used to be about keywords and backlinks. Now, with AI flooding search engines with content, it’ s harder than ever to show up. You can’ t always trust reviews, rankings, or even“ training courses” online and social media is full of fake news.
We’ re adapting. We’ re making our website AI-ready with geo-structured content and human-focused design. But we’ re also going back to basics, investing in print again. You can fake a website, but you can’ t fake a leaflet through the door posted by a human.
We expect marketing is going full circle. Local directories, print ads, community trust and word of mouth, these will matter more than ever.
Locksmith Stories: Lockouts, Shotguns, & Netflix Stars
Ross has seen it all. One time, he was called to a remote farmhouse- the man inside casually mentioned someone was asleep under a blanket on the sofa. There was no one there. Turns out, he was schizophrenic. Ross did the job and left quickly.
Another woman whispered that Ross had to be quiet because‘ someone was listening’ as she pointed towards the attic. Again, no one there.
But it’ s not all horror stories. Earlier this year, a film production company contacted us to train an actress in lock picking for an upcoming Netflix series. At first, we thought it was a prank, but it was real. Ross gave the actress a 1-to-1 tutorial, even coaching her on how to mask her technique on camera. He taught her how to use a double tension tool so her hands would block what she was doing. We even found her on YouTube afterwards!
Diagnosing, Quoting, & Reassuring
One thing that sets us apart is how much we help before we even step foot on the job. I’ ll often diagnose the issue over the phone and give a price upfront. No surprises, no pressure. That’ s what makes us different from many independent locksmiths who are always on the road and can’ t stop to listen properly.
People expect someone to talk to straightaway, to provide reassurance and not a sales pitch.
90 % Marketing- 10 % Locksmithing
Ross always says locksmithing is 90 % marketing and 10 % locksmithing and it’ s true. You could be the best lock picker in the world, but if no one knows who you are, you’ ll never get through the door.
We’ ve built this business with hard work, honesty, and a focus on people. Whether it’ s getting picked up by the Locksmith Journal, teaching Netflix stars, or just fixing a jammed gearbox in Canterbury, we’ re here to stay.
hamesandsonslocksmiths. co. uk 07713 118306 info @ hamesandsons. co. uk
Hames & Sons Locksmiths- a Kent Family Locksmith Company since 1997; covering Herne Bay, Whitstable, Canterbury, Thanet, Ashford & beyond
JULY 2025
11
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