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Help Locks really is here to help
Speak to almost all locksmiths and they love locksmithing . Whether someone has been picking locks and cracking safes for half a century ( or even longer ), is installing biometric access controls , programming car keys , replacing window locks after a burglary or anything in between , locksmiths love locksmithing . For some locksmiths , however , struggling to attract customers or having lots of work but struggling to make a decent profit is getting in the way of the job they love . This means having to take on work they don ’ t like , moving away from the industry , or sacrificing precious time with family and friends in attempt to work more hours . Help is here .
» FOR ANYONE WHO HAS ALREADY heard of Help Locks and its founder Paul Stevens ; a short intro to his background simply states that Paul turned his hand to locksmithing having worked as a retail manager for 17 years , and for some this might seem like an unusual step ; even if it isn ’ t unusual for locksmiths to have started their career in another sector .
“ It ’ s true I worked in retail first ,” Paul says , “ and I had been considering setting up a business of my own , but at the time it wasn ’ t going to be locksmithing . The matter of the fact is that I was managing the retail store at Bradford City FC and quite often trainee locksmiths would come into the store from a neighbouring training centre .
“ I would speak to the trainers and the trainees , and I became interested in it myself . I thought it would be a nice side-line and I like picking up new skills . During my training though , I saw much more scope in locksmithing and my head for business started thinking of a new idea .
“ I attended the MLA expo in 2015 and that was my ‘ Eureka moment ’; to combine the centuries-old tradition of locksmithing with the modern business practices I ’ d been immersed in for almost two decades . That ’ s when I set to work with Help Locks .”
It wasn ’ t a case of leaving one career path behind and starting on a new venture however , as Paul explains , he merged the two together to create a new model . Having noticed himself that there can be very skilful , hardworking locksmiths that put in the hours but don ’ t seem to get back the take-home pay they should be expecting , Paul had a business plan that would allow locksmiths to do the work they love and get the rewards they deserve , through proper support , and his own personal mentorship .
“ In my ‘ retail life ’, I worked with very large companies and much smaller ones , meaning that I experienced the entire gambit of branding and budgets , management and marketing , working with suppliers , dealing with customers ; everything that is needed to run a business and help others set up their own .
“ Then in my ‘ locksmith life ’, I started to apply what I ’ d learnt during my previous roles to my own business . In my mind from day one was ‘ can my hours on the tools and the profit I ’ m making each year
be made into a model to help others do the same ’. The answer was yes .
“ Through my own work – which in itself was an experiment to see if Help Locks could be a franchise – I was developing an online presence , through our website and social media . I was establishing our product line and forging relationships with suppliers . I was negotiating costs and building up case studies . Last but by no means least , I was getting a real feel for what locksmiths love about their jobs and what they need more of .
“ For the most part , the majority of locksmiths are really good at their job , but for whatever reason they are not attracting enough customers or they are not making enough money from the work they do . It ’ s not as simple as putting up the prices or placing some advertising though , there needs to be a sound business model that can provide locksmiths the earning potential they deserve , great products at decent prices to them , training when its needed , support and mentorship , plus job satisfaction for , let ’ s face it , the next 30 years in some cases . That ’ s a long time to be doing a job you don ’ t like or worse , a job you really like but isn ’ t giving back what you ’ re putting into it .”
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NOV / DEC 2021
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