Each year, Alloyfold gets asked to comment on the Hire and Rental industry in Australia and NZ. Here are a few insights from Gregg Hagen, Alloyfold's International Sales Manager.
Can you give an overview of what has been happening in the last 12 months? Have you launched any new products or promotions recently? We’ve just launched a new range of premium banquet tables. Their reinforced, blow molded table tops still feature the same strength, heat resistant materials and ISO quality ratings as our popular blow molded range, but they are styled with a table top, leg finish and design features that require no covering and remove annoying leg braces that impede diners legroom. We have also just started offering lycra table covers, which as you’d imagine are a great add-on rental for hire companies to offer to their customers. They are machine washable, low maintenance and create a sleek look for parties or events.
What do you believe is your point of difference in the market and makes you a success in your industry? Our products are designed and manufactured specifically to be rented out by hire companies. The constant demand placed on chairs and tables as they are transported, set up and used at events means they need to be made from strong durable materials and designed with these demands in mind. Chairs and Tables in our range are all stackable, lightweight and portable. Our customers also continue to look for longevity in their inventory. They consider the return on investment they will get from chairs and tables. Rather than just thinking about the up-front cost, they also carefully consider their lifetime value which is determined by strength and durability. We’ve certainly seen that with our Alloyfold Aluminium folding chairs, a lot of the original chairs that are now around 15 years old are still being rented out by our customers. One of our customers in the USA recently commented “although they cost more than steel chairs, maintenance has got to be a 10th of what it is on any other chairs, if that, and then the lifespan outlasts 6 or 7 sets of them!” The fact that we are a charitable business is our biggest point of difference. Alloyfold is wholly owned by Pathway Charitable Group, an organisation which helps disadvantaged people to make a fresh start. Profits from Alloyfold sales provide the majority of funding for Pathway’s social services which include social work support, accommodation, employment opportunities, mentoring and prisoner reintegration. What has been happening in the furniture and decorations market – is it booming or slowing down? Is there any difference in your business to other states in regards to demand and trends? How have new trends lifted the game? I would say that the market is steady at the moment. I haven’t noticed any particular trends as our customers choose what works for them, for example chairs and tables that are easy to stack and light to transport. They look for versatility in their inventory and that’s why our Bella Evolution has appealed to many Hire Companies, because it offers two different chairs in one.
What are the main issues facing the industry currently? Hire companies are looking to pay less for furniture and margins are getting tighter. It’s an easy trap for rental companies to fall into buying the cheapest on the market but it’s not worth it if the furniture only offers a short rental life or require a lot of maintenance. We can honestly say that although some of our products cost more, they offer a much better return on investment as they can last up to 6-7 times longer, require very little maintenance, and are lightweight to set-up and pack down, saving our customers money in the long run. Alloyfold began manufacturing Aluminium folding chairs in 1998. They became a popular choice for rental companies all around the world as they offer a return on investment that steel folding chairs couldn’t compete with - they don’t rust, they require no maintenance and are strong, durable and lightweight. Alloyfold now sells a wide range of contract chairs and commercial grade tables as well as cinema seating, waiting area seating, church seating, convention seating and office furniture. Alloyfold is wholly owned by Pathway Charitable Group, an organisation who helps disadvantaged people to make a fresh start - every chair or table purchased helps to change a life and make a difference in the community.