Jamie and Millie Davies, owners of Davies Salvage Ltd near Nottingham, have seen significant growth in their business over the past few years. From securing significant contracts to expanding their export market globally, their journey is a testament to dedication and innovation. We caught up with them to learn more about their success story.
Continued Success: An Update on Our Growing Business
We’ve never been busier, thanks to a surge in word-of-mouth referrals that have kept us extremely active. This increase in business has prompted us to hire another full-time driver to handle the growing demand. On the export side, our operations are thriving. We’ve recently onboarded several new customers from various regions worldwide, further expanding our market reach and enhancing our global presence.
Global Reach: Davies Salvage Ltd’s Expanding Export Footprint
The export side of our business has seen tremendous growth. We now have the capability to load containers directly from our yard in addition to using curtain siders. Our current export destinations include Ghana, Poland, Lithuania, Armenia, and Israel. Understanding and effectively communicating with our customers has been crucial in maintaining a steady and profitable supply chain. We are keenly aware of the specific engine types each customer requires. Moreover, we provide our customers with purchaser login access to our collection software, allowing them to view incoming vehicles and express interest in specific engines, which enhances transparency and streamlines the purchasing process.
Enhancing Efficiency in Vehicle Collection
An efficient collection system is indeed vital for our operations. It speeds up the booking process, car collections, and the paperwork side of things. Just before COVID-19 hit, we recognised the need for a more efficient system as our existing methods were becoming unsustainable. Initially, a paper diary sufficed when we were only collecting a few cars daily. However, as our business expanded to organising over 20 car collections per day, it became clear that we needed a more streamlined and organised system. After an unsuccessful search for a suitable scrap car collection system, we decided to develop our own. We partnered with a local software design company to create a custom system tailored to our needs. We believe that if this need was critical for us, it likely exists for other ATFs as well.
From Humble Beginnings to High Volume
From dismantling a single vehicle to overseeing a successful operation with 15 staff and processing approximately 6760 vehicles annually, our journey from humble beginnings to high volume has been both planned and pursued with unwavering dedication. It has taken 15 years of dedication, hard work, and navigating through stress and challenges.
The secret to our success lies in having a dedicated and skilled team of staff. Without them, this growth would have remained a dream. Building and maintaining good relationships with our customers and providing excellent customer service are also critical components. Additionally, keeping our operations well-organised ensures that our daily processes run smoothly and efficiently.
Cultivating a Dedicated Team at Davies Salvage
Our team is incredible. We have many committed and talented individuals working with us, and they are truly dedicated to their roles. We strive to make the work environment enjoyable and rewarding for them. We organise numerous work events, including an annual trip to Benidorm, which helps in fostering team spirit and maintaining high morale. These initiatives not only show our appreciation for their hard work but also incentivise them to continue contributing to the growth and success of Davies Salvage.