Andy Kennard recognised by ARA for Service to Industry
Andy Kennard has been flying the flag for the Australian Hire Industry in America for 60 Years.
He’s a legend of hire who’s shaped the industry, both here and abroad. This year, he celebrates 60 years with the American Rental Association (ARA) and here’s how it all began.
Back in 1964, Andy was 20 years old and travelling the world. His brother Neville owned the family business, which he had bought from their father, and asked Andy to come back and manage it. Andy decided to go to America to look at what was happening in their rental industry and on landing in Los Angeles, drove past a rental business, deciding to stop in to ‘say g’day’. They welcomed him in, showed him their business and introduced him to pioneers of the US rental industry.
A week after he arrived, he was encouraged to go to the ARA convention in Fort Worth, Texas. He jumped on a plane, attended the convention and became their first official international visitor, of which, Andy recalls, they ‘made quite a fuss’. On returning to Los Angeles, he had opportunity to spend time with Sam Greenberg from Sam’s U-Drive, one of the most highly regarded rental pioneers in California. By the time he returned home to Australia, he was fired up with enthusiasm about improving the business.
He bought into the business in 1965, bringing the same entrepreneurial spirit as his father and driven by innovation and a customer-focused attitude.
“We saw what they did in the US, buying new equipment, buying in bulk, having really nicely laid-out stores, and said, ‘that’s what we have to do,’” Andy explains. “We copied, particularly what was happening in California at that time, and we transformed the business thanks to kind ARA and CRA members who opened their doors to us.”
Andy credits these trips to helping him get a head start over his competitors and suggests that in just five years, they’d caught up with the Americans, the California standards, because they applied them, diligently and adopted them to adapt to their own requirements.
The rest of the Kennards Hire story, as they say, is history. For 75 years, Kennards Hire has grown and spread across Australia and New Zealand, raising the standard in the hire industry while maintaining its family values. The common threads of their success? People, standardisation and technology.
When asked what he wants the legacy of Kennards Hire to look like 75 years from now, Andy says: “I hope it’s still run by family and family owned. I know that’s not always easy, but I hope it’s owned by the family and professionally managed with high standards. Our board is critical to the ongoing performance of the business. The format of hire may look different 75 years from now. It’s going to be up to the next generation.”
In 2002, Andy was inducted into the ARA Hall of Fame. His citation at the time read: “Kennard is an exceptional entrepreneur. He joined the family business in 1964 and was a partner with his brother Neville for 27 years. During that time, Kennards Hire became the largest family-owned hire business in Australia. He was instrumental in identifying niche opportunities for Kennards Hire. Kennard forged a relationship with the ARA and supported bringing attendees to The Rental Show. The company also was involved with establishing the Global Rental Alliance.”
Congratulations Andy Kennard for reaching a remarkable milestone.
