Notice Board
UNLOCKING DOORS YOU DIDN’ T KNOW WERE THERE:
Help Locks Ltd
» PAUL STEVENS SAYS THAT HE NEVER set out to become a locksmith. In fact, if you’ d told him 20 years ago that he’ d one day run a thriving security company in Leeds he’ d have laughed you out of the room. But life has a funny way of unlocking doors you didn’ t even know were there!
Today, as the owner of Help Locks, Paul is not just supplying and fitting locks; he’ s reshaping how people buy, learn about, and experience home security. Complete with a shop in Leeds, an e-commerce business, franchise opportunities, and TV appearances …
Simply Put: I Wasn’ t Built for Bad Bosses
My journey into locksmithing was a complete fluke. I’ d worked in retail management for 17 years in full time manager roles, including running the club shop at Bradford City FC. When redundancy came in the late 2000s, it wasn’ t the first time. In fact, it was the third. I knew deep down I wasn’ t cut out to keep working for bad bosses. I needed to be self-employed.
The seed of locksmithing had been planted while still working at Bradford
City. The MPL directors Graham Jones and Mark Lawn, also associate directors at the club, had links to training providers in the locksmith industry. So, I took the plunge, trained, and started dabbling part-time while still in retail.
At first, locksmithing was just something on my radar in case redundancy hit again. But when the work grew to the point I had to leave the job, I knew this was it. That was over 10 years ago, and I’ ve never looked back.
From Van Life to Virtual Shopfronts
One of the biggest changes I’ ve embraced is the shift from traditional callouts to online retail.
When I first started as a locksmith, I had to carry 15 different sizes of door handles in my van. Now I only need two because manufacturers have designed products to retrofit easily. People like to source products online and fit them themselves. It was this insight that led me to open my first e-commerce store in 2016. Out of every nine smart locks I sell, I only fit one- the rest go direct to the consumer. My first store wasn’ t a great success, so in 2019 I relaunched with smarter product sourcing and a sharper strategy, the results have been transformative.
At first, online was just 7 % of my business like a bit of extra pocket money. Today, e-commerce is around 65 % of what I do. It’ s completely reshaped the business.
Help Locks now offers a“ shop-in-shop” concept with brands like Ultion, ABS, and Apex locks, giving customers a full experience of each range. It’ s a win-win for suppliers and customers, and the model is attracting attention from more big names.
Teaching Retail & TV Fame
But my background in retail hasn’ t gone to waste because I’ ve turned part of my business into an education platform.
I launched a YouTube channel where I test shops, looking at them through the eyes of a store manager. I want to help the high street by showing what works and what doesn’ t. Retail today is nothing like the 90s, it’ s a much harder slog, but I can pass on what I know to help others.
My videos and insights have even caught the attention of the BBC and ITV, where I’ ve been featured in home security and small business programmes.
Adapting to a Fastchanging industry
The locksmith industry isn’ t what it used to be, the last couple of years have been tough. Manufacturers are struggling, customers have less disposable income, and legislation has changed. New builds now come with 3-star locks as standard, which removes a big chunk of the replacement market. On top of that, manufacturers are selling direct to consumers, so you’ re competing with your own suppliers.
14
SEPTEMBER 2025
locksmithjournal. co. uk Issue Takeover