In this episode, Patrick McCrory, Owner of McCrorys Removals discusses how he began within the industry in 1967, which is when he bought his first vehicle, that came with a starting handle!
Patrick, originally from County Tyrone in Ireland, who is 75 in June (2024), did work for a carrier company in Middlesborough for a short period of time before upping sticks and moving to London (alone) shortly after he’d left school. Working nightshifts in Safeway allowed Patrick to transport goods during the daytime, which included brass beds for a local antique company, that later lead Patrick into the antique and auctioneers industry for a few years, before returning to removals when he relocated to Nottingham some 40 years ago.
McCrorys Removals specialise in moves to and from Ireland, running 2 x 18 tonne demountables, 2 x 3.5 tonne vans, 1 x 18 tonne demountable trailer, 1 x 3.5 tonne box trailer & 5 x demountable bodies.
Patrick has experienced many challenges over his time within the industry, staff will always remain a challenge, but the worst decision he ever made was signing a contract to join a trade association.
The one thing Patrick would change from his moving past is to have learned to say no and to ensure he could undertake the job comfortably before saying yes.
Patrick has had many highpoints of being within the industry is, but one was getting his first demountable drawbar trailer.
The one thing Patrick would like to change within the industry is that everybody within an operation, no matter what their role or their seniority, go and assist on a removal on a regular basis, to get a full understanding of the industry.
The advice Patrick would give himself just starting out within the industry again is to appreciate only owning a small van for the valuable experience of having to utilise every inch of available space.
In the next 5 years Patrick plans to retire, again, and is now actively looking to sell McCrorys Removals, which Patrick believes can be a niche bolt-on to an existing Removals & Storage business, that can be relocated anyway within the UK. Industry wise, Patrick sees more regulation, such as the weight a person can lift.
Outside of the industry Patrick likes to travel (he has himself a campervan), cooking (which includes baking soda bread), gardening, reading, and listening to Radio 4.
And as always, we end Moving Matters with a funny moving story regarding a move to Spain.
Enjoy!
Links to McCrorys Removals:
Special Guest: Patrick McCrory.