It’s been a big year for Camden Hire as they celebrate 40 years in business and win the 2024 Hire Company of the Year Award. Managing Director Mark Scarce and General Manager Adam Mulley reflect on what the award means to the business and how a four-decade journey has led them to where they are today.
AT THE 2024 HIRE INDUSTRY EXCELLENCE Awards in June this year, Adam Mulley celebrated onstage with the Camden Hire team.
‘We’re truly humbled to receive such a recognised award in such a wonderful industry,” he said in the moment. “From where it all began with Mike (Scarce) down in the back of Oxley St, to where we are as a business today, through Mark (Scarce), Mike, the family and the team’s hard work, it’s unbelievable.”
Looking back, Managing Director Mark Scarce says they were surprised to win. “We thought we’d be in the running, but there was good competition in our category.”
Camden Hire provides a wide range of highquality equipment and exceptional service to their customers.
He says they initially ‘put their hands up’ for the award because it’s their 40th year in business. “That was probably one of the catalysts,” says Mark. “But we’d also won the award previously in 2006, so we wanted to have another go and see how we’d fare nearly 18 years later against our peers.”
While many hours were spent on the award submission, they know it would ultimately be worth it. “It forces you to take a good look at your business and make it better,” says Mark.
Adam agrees, saying the award means a lot to the business. “Obviously, it’s a great ‘feather in our cap’ but it also reinforces the work we do day-to-day. To receive that level of recognition in our industry is quite an achievement.”
The Camden Hire story began in 1984 when Mark’s dad, Mike, built a horse float for his kids. That was the start of a trailer and float manufacturing business which grew until he needed to move to a factory unit in Camden. He then started hiring out equipment on the side until eventually, the hire side of the business took over.
Mark says their product lines have changed significantly over the years. Back in the early days, they’d primarily hire out smaller hand tools, such as drills, jigsaws and circular saws, however as hand tools became more affordable, demand decreased.
Today, the equipment they hire is much bigger and there’s a greater focus on safety. Technology has also changed enormously over 40 years, introducing efficiencies to the business. “All our contracts used to be done manually with a carbon copy,” he says, “so I don’t know how we didn’t lose more gear!”
Their mission now is to be the premier hire solution for companies and individuals throughout Sydney, providing a wide range of high-quality equipment and exceptional service to their customers.
“Like any business, we have our ups and downs and we’re always fine tuning, but we’ve got a good culture, and our core group of people share the values of the business,” says Mark.
Adam agrees. “Our people are truly amazing and with long-term staff, especially in our key areas, it gives us good continuity of service for our customers.”
They’ve got about a dozen employees who’ve been with Camden Hire for over 20 years — some close to 30 years — and another dozen who are approaching 20 years of service.
“Regardless of where you start, there are opportunities to develop and grow,” says Mark.
“They might have started in our party hire division, putting up tents and delivering equipment, or working in the wash bays as teenagers on weekends and school holidays and now, they’ve progressed through the business to become branch managers.”
“That’s why the Hire Company of the Year Award means a lot to them as well because it’s verification that what they’re doing is working and it’s been recognised by our industry.”
Camden Hire are also the employers of the 2023 Young Professional of the Year, Tom Wood, who this year, was recognised by the American Rental Association’s (ARA) publication, Rental Management, as one of ’12 to watch under 40’. It’s a great reflection on the company and its culture.
“Tom had the opportunity to go overseas, through the ARA exchange program, and bring back knowledge, tips and tricks about how companies in other parts of the world are operating,” says Mark. “That’s been great.”
“The Young Professionals program has also brought this professional aspect to our industry, which was already there, but it’s now being recognised by graduates and other job seekers that this is an industry worth joining and you can have a career in Hire.”
As to what keeps them going in the industry after 40 years, Adam says it comes down to the enjoyment of doing a good job for their customers.
“Work is different every day,” he says. “We can lay out our plans every morning but then you receive a couple of customer phone calls and we’re immediately juggling things around because something’s gone wrong or the customer is a little disorganised and needs something last minute.”
“I think all our staff enjoy that fast-paced environment.”
You can learn more about Camden Hire’s story at camdenhire.com.au