b'KENNARDS HIRE Since 1948TAKING HIRE HIGHER | 12TAKING HIRE HIGHEREver since Wally saw octopus straps and roof racks inwithlarge-scale implementations. Its a method thatEurope in the early 1950s, the Kennards have travelledhas proven successful time and time again, allowingthe world looking for the next great idea to bring tothe business to innovate with confidence and drive Australia. Andy and Nevs eyes were always peeled onsignificant growth.their travels to the US, Europe and Asia. This didnt just extend to work tripson family holidays they couldThis is how Kennards became the first to introduce small be found scouring the country for the next big idea,tip trucks that customers could drive with their regular taking detours to look at factories or attend conferencescar licence; silent generators; lawn edgers; drain snakes; (much to the annoyance of their kids).It was compulsorycarpet shampooers; DIY floor sanders; and improved during a visit to the US to drop in on a rental yard,compressors. The company pioneered aerial access Nevilles oldest son, Sam, recalls. Often it was to seeequipment in Australia with the introduction of the first people he already knew, but sometimes hed just blowscissor lifts in 1972, although not without hiccups. The in and introduce himself. Department of Labour and Industry didnt have a rule book for scissor lifts, Andy remembers. They tried to This insatiable curiosity and drive for improvement forgedchuck us into the too-hard basket. So we just did what new friendships, while also making Kennards a trailblazerwe wanted to do. The scissor lifts became one of their in the hire industry in Australia. After each trip, Andy andmost successful imports. Nev would evaluate whether a product would enhance the existing product line and if it should be brought intoAlways keen to save a quid, Nev also copied an idea the fold. A word that Nev and I used was plagiarise,hed seen in the US: turning old oil drums into rubbish Andy says. Weve been very big on plagiarising peoplesbins. He combined red and white paint to create a ideas and systems and layouts. A lot of people thinkcolour he christened nipple pink. Why did he paint thats a dirty word. I think its a great word. hundreds of bins such a garish colour? I dont know, Andy admits. But I imagine it was to make them stand Wally and his brothers passed down a powerfulout. We like being different. mantra: Fire bullets before cannon balls. Kennards Hire has adopted this philosophy as a guiding principle,Andys son, Cam, sheds some light on another reason: recognising the importance of starting small and iteratingAround the branches, theres always a bunch of leftover to refine an idea, before improving it and unleashingred paint and white paint, so theyd combine them,it on a large scale. This strategy has helped Kennardsand the pinks would vary, so they called it nipple pink!validate concepts and minimise the risks associated After each trip, Andy and Nev would evaluate whethera product would enhance the existing productline, and if it should be brought into the fold.'