Removal man's new job is rubbish

By George Herd
BBC Wales News website

Jeffrey Cranston's removals firm is feeling the credit crunch

Jeffrey Cranston speaks at a gallop in a dazzling County Down accent.

He spent much of the 90s raking in what he described as "good money" managing building operations at some of the most prestigious new developments in Belfast.

Then in the new millennium, he saw fresh opportunities across the Irish Sea working as his own boss with his brother Herbie.

Together they set up what has become the largest furniture removals firm on Anglesey.

But then came the credit crunch.

"Business is so slow it is unbelievable," remarked Mr Cranston.

"We work with all the estate agents on Anglesey and in Bangor. They refer all their customers to us. But it's just not coming through.

"You couldn't make a living at it now."

It is a problem that is mirrored across Wales, with one survey from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors suggesting that April saw the fastest fall in home prices on record.

If it wasn't for this new business then the housing market situation would have meant four or five job losses Jeffrey Cranston

But Mr Cranston was not about to watch and wait while his firm stagnated waiting for the housing market to recover.

"We're diversifying," he stated confidently.

Two months ago, his firm North Wales Carriers Ltd entered the world of recycling.

Using his 10-strong workforce and fleet of removals vans, Jeffrey now puts in 14-hour days collecting cardboard, plastic, tins and bottles from businesses across Anglesey, Caernarfon and Bangor.

"We realised it was a service that wasn't being offered by the councils in the area," explained the removals man.

"They are only interested in clean paper - leave cardboard out for collection and it will stay where you left it, it won't get lifted by council collections.

"So we are offering that service for free, and the take-up has been phenomenal."

Overseas

The company estimated it is clearing around 40 tonnes of cardboard a week on its collections, calling at some big High Street names, right down to small corner shops.

"These places don't know what to do with this material, so we go and make approaches to them," added Mr Cranston.

"And once you offer a free service, and the realise the savings they are going to make, they jump at it."

All the materials are baled up back at the firm's Amlwch headquarters and then sold on the open market, often heading overseas for further processing.

It is at this point that the removals company sees a return on its investment in all the hard graft.

"If it wasn't for this new business then the housing market situation would have meant four or five job losses," admitted the firm's owner.

"The estate agents say the housing market will pick up, but it could be in a year or so.

"So for now, this has to be the way forward and it is going to be a success."