ANDREW WISHART & SONS
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Continued work on the
Continent combined with consolidation of the UK market. This is the guiding philosophy behind Kirkcaldy-based Andrew Wishart and Sons, an 86-year-old haulage firm with 25 tractive units and 60 trailers.
William Wishart, joint managing director along with his brother Andrew, says: "75% of our work is on the Continent, 25% is in the UK," This threeto-one split in business is derived from the make-up of the industrial base around the Wishart headquarters.
William explains that cabling and US satellite companies are widespread in the district—and Wishart has the necessary equipment to get this gear to customers throughout Europe.
-Continental work is quite easy, and the fuel is cheaper. We still have to buy fuel in the UK, but our Continental cousins do have advantages." says William. For Andrew Wishart & Sans, good roads and a haulage-friendly environment make Continental work all the more attractive,
Elaine Wishart, William's daughter, is marketing manager at the firm. She says: "We are looking for a 60-40 split between our Continental and UK work. If things go wrong over there we want a strong foothold in Britain."
Such a change in the work ratio would not mean transferring HGVs used for Continental work to the UK market; the firm will simply buy more vehicles for operations within the UK. This way normal Continental business does not have to be compromised at the expense of the British market.
General haulage forms the backbone of the UK work. Andrew Wishart will take on most loads, but some consignments are handled more than others. Satellite equipment is commonly carried to locations in the OK, as well as nonperishable foods—but 50% of OK work is derived from carrying the slightly unconventional load of trees.
Elaine explains: "We have been really busy with this. The trees are taken from the Kirkcaldy area to destinations across the UK. We recently took some trees to the Millennium Dome site."
She says the tree market is blossoming: customers want mature trees in gardens rather than waiting for decades for a sapling to grow into a giant. The firm's four Hiab lorry-mounted cranes are ideal for this work, and also prove a vital tool in back loading bricks to the Kirkcaldy base from various locations, The bricks are then picked up from the Andrew Wlshart depot by a local haulier.
What is the policy when it comes to buying and servicing vehicles? William says: "We had our awn workshops but we closed them 14 years ago. The fleet is now replaced every four years." The continual fleet turnover, allied with the fact that all Wishart vehicles are bought new, renders a fitting requirement practically non-existent. William says the HGVs are sold just as the warranties are exhausted. It's a smart plan which dispenses with the need for expensive workshops while simultaneously guaranteeing vehicles are always in tip-top order— with no crippling repair bills.
Elaine tells of the firm's business policy: We have been focusing on finding new business; we research the market, and then visit potential customers," Existing customers are also given the personal treatment. "Keeping in touch with our customers is important," says Elaine. "We ring them every two months, and if we hear that a competitor has visited our customer we will be on the telephone, asking our customer what they want from us." However, despite this willingness to communicate with the customer Andrew Wishart will never negotiate rates.
Warehousing is another string to the Wishart bow. The company picks up goods such as television sets from local facto
ries for storage in the warehouse at the depot before being taken to destinations across the Continent and the UK. It is certainly an expansive headquarters at Kirkcaldy. and even with the offices, parking space and warehouse, there is ample space left over. This fact has not been overlooked by William, who reports that plans are in hand to start building a series of industrial units on the site for rental to local businesses.
CM takes a walk in the spacious lorry parking area while William and Elaine prepare themselves for our photographer. It's a typically tranquil day in this small Fife town.
Suddenly, from nowhere, the air reverberates—and then fills with a mighty roar, It is the Rolls-Royce Olympus engines of Concorde. carrying out a spectacular low-level pass over the town. Something of a surreal sight. Then two waves of Red Arrow Hawk jets fly over the Wishart depot, flashing in the sun as they dramatically veer away.
The jets are Edinburgh-bound; today is 1 July. the official opening of the Scottish Parliament. What better time to ask about the predicted impact of the new assembly?
Elaine replies, -I think the new Parliament will increase taxes. But I think that it will give Scotland a stronger voice. How we have a Scottish Parliament we should put it to our advantage."