Paul’s removal business celebrates 25 years serving customers in Stratford district
COME rain or shine there’s always a smile on Paul Blundell’s face simply because he loves his job.
This year Paul celebrates 25 years of his family run business – Paul and Leon’s Removals and Storage – which he started when he bought a Transit van for £3,500 at auction and created the first van and man hire in the Midlands having spotted a similar service in Kent.
“It was my first van,” Paul said. “I had very little money so I worked seven days a week and I had a mate who printed my name and number on the side of the van. I had no money for advertising so I used to park the van at Tesco and at petrol stations and people made a note of it and eventually the phone started ringing with jobs. I’ve never had loans or asked for money. I’ve worked for everything I’ve got and I’ve made some beautiful people along the way.”
Many of his regular customers have become friends now and book Paul and his son Leon for their services which include house and business removals, clearance, storage, packing, refuse removal, local and long distance moving – he’s even done house moves to France.
His partner Tracy is also involved in the packing and removals side of the business and the company now has four vans. Some of his clients include Stratford District Council, Orbit and the Stratford Herald and its staff.
“It’s the best job in the world, I love what I do but there’s never enough time in the day. I always go to work with a smile on my face everyday whatever the weather – snow or rain - because people are relying on you to help them. They’ve been stressed out and packing for weeks so we turn up, get everything sorted in two to three hours and off we go - get the job done. I’ve had loads of people say “how did you manage to do that so quickly?” It makes me happy to see them happy,” Paul said.
He started out laying turf and pipes but – in his words - was being paid “peanuts” so he set up his own business and it’s paid dividends as proved the case with the timely sale of an old grandfather clock.
“A lady had two storage containers and asked us to clear them. She told us we could could keep or dispose of whatever was in one of them. It contained a grandfather clock which looked nice so I took it to Bigwoods Auctioneers who I know well. They told me it was hand carved and made in Ireland. When it came to auction an online bidder from Ireland paid £2,800 for the clock. It was Christmas and we shared the money among ourselves,” said Paul.
For anyone with a small business or just about to take that all important step and start their own business, Paul’s advice is to “just go for it. I too was scared but remember you get out of life what you put into it.”
The quietest time of the year for Paul is January which is why he’s saved up all his money and doing something that he’s always wanted to do – relax and enjoy a cruise in the Caribbean in the New Year. He’s also got his 60th to look forward to later in 2024.
When he does get the odd weekend off, Paul loves nothing more than wandering around steam fairs.
“I like going round a steam rally or a fairground taking pictures of steam engines. I always have done. I’m ever so grateful for what I do in my job and I’ve met so many nice people as well,” Paul said.
