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EVENTS in FOCUS
“In 1998 we purchased a prototype for
an aluminium folding chair which was
perfect for the rental market. We would
be the first to design and manufacture
a chair like this. The aluminium frame
we were making was lightweight (30%
lighter), it didn’t rust and it didn’t really
scratch. It was an exciting product and
for me, a ‘no brainer’.
“Our team were manufacturing
aluminium folding chairs and these
were sold into the New Zealand market.
We needed to branch further afield to a
larger market, which was the USA and
then into Australia. So, we discovered the
American Rental Show and HRIA and as
people say, the rest is history.
“Marketing in the USA proved
challenging. We are the original
aluminium rental chair and back in 2001
we had work to do. Our chair was new,
it was innovative and was a work in
progress in the early days.
“We had to demonstrate to the rental
market why a chair costing almost double
the price of a steel chair would bring long
term returns on investment. In the early
days our team would cold call the USA at
5am our time. Cold in every sense of the
word. We needed to respect a customer’s
time and know when to leave them alone.
We needed a thick skin, some tenacity, a
product people would want to talk to us
about, and increasingly a smart website,
to make any headway in this market.
“Off the back of our success with this
chair we developed a range of other
chairs that shared the same properties –
ie: durable, lightweight, commercial grade
and low maintenance. We now sell chairs
for rental and hire, blow molded tables,
portable toilets and more.
“Once we started to make progress in the
USA it became clear we needed to move
manufacturing to the US. This however,
meant jobs were no longer available to
those who needed them and this was one
of the reasons we started the Pathway
Trust project.
“At this point the charitable nature of the
organisation took a big step. The model
switched to a social enterprising business
One chair and a mission for those in need
This year, Alloyfold celebrates the 15th birthday of its aluminium folding event and rental
chairs and celebrates having linked its name with a charitable goal to help give people
a fresh start. Here Alloyfold’s founding director, Murray Kennedy talks about how it all
began.
and this is how it
stands today. This
meant the business
activity financially
supported the
Pathway Trust.
“Pathway Trust had
a simple objective;
to provide a fresh
start for those who
wouldn’t normally
get one. Over the
years this has grown
and developed to
include helping
people needing
employment or new
skills, families or individuals needing
accommodation and social work and
reintegration services for people about to
be released from prison.
“Alloyfold provides around 60% of
Pathway Trust’s funding which now
supports four full time social workers, two
full time accommodation staff and two
additional admin staff.
"This has meant an impact on many
individuals and families. Real change has
occurred in many people’s lives because
Pathway’s staff never gives up on people.
We’ve seen hundreds of people over the
years, many of whom have transitioned
The Alloyfold team at HIRE15 – Chris Shute, Gregg Hagen and Damon Shute
from potentially repeating old behaviours
and are now walking a fresh path.
“We have expanded our product range
from our aluminium chair, where it all
began, to over 160 commercial seating
and other furniture products.
“It’s been a challenging but rewarding
15 years and we look forward to the next
15 with the hope and anticipation our
products will continue to serve people
well and then in turn help to change lives.
Thanks to all our customers who are a
part of making this happen.”
Contact: 1800 287 025 or visit website:
www.alloyfold.com
The company offers an experienced
in-house team that uses a high tech
European fabric cleaning machine to
clean marquees.
The ATS service is available Australia
and New Zealand wide.
ATS uses a fully automatic washing
and drying system including a waxing
option to assist in maintenance of
Australian Temporary Structures Fabric
Cleaning Service
fabrics. Cleaning machines are a cost
effective alternative when compared to
traditional hand cleaning, with no soaking
or hanging required, the company said.
ATS is part of a group of companies
owned by Neil Wallis & SamWhyte.
Contact: 1800 86 68 68 or visit: www.
australiantemporarystructures.com.au
Australian Temporary Structures’ (ATS) Fabric Servicing
division delivers cleaning solutions for a range of marquee
widths and lengths.
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HIRE AND RENTAL NEWS •
EVENTS in FOCUS
• MAY 2016