Behind the scenes: moving Allways Hire to the new Napier Yard

There can be lots of triggers for change in business. For Allways Hire it was the ending of the lease on their Napier Yard. Taking stock of some of their existing challenges set the scene for a new beginning. The decision to move the Napier branch to a new location would tick a lot of boxes for both the operations team and Allways Hire’s customers.

In this article we take a look behind the scenes of the relocation of the Allways Hire Napier Yard to 30 Corunna Bay.We’ll share insights into the decision making process, the benefits of the new yard, and the build up to the big launch week.

The decision to relocate

The decision to relocate the Napier Yard was triggered by the end of the lease on the 18 Thames St yard. Jeremy, Business Development Manager at Allways Hire, outlines the challenges that had to be overcome by the team managing the yard, and why the lease expiring signalled an opportunity to relocate.

“The original yard had its limitations. Space was tight, access wasn’t ideal, and we were starting to feel a bit restricted. We knew if we wanted to keep growing and improving our service, we needed a location that could support that.”

Since opening in June 2023, business from the yard in Napier has gone from strength to strength. It’s important for the operations team in Napier that they can handle high volumes of pick ups and drop offs, that there’s plenty of space for machines to be stored, and that access is easy. These are the things that immediately went onto the shopping list when the search for a new yard location began.

The site at 30 Corunna Bay seemed like a dream come true when the team carried out their first visit.

“Honestly, it was a bit of a “wow” moment. The space, the layout, the location—it just ticked so many boxes. We could immediately see the potential, not just for us, but for our customers too. There’s a lot of work ahead to set it up just right, but we’re focused on creating a smooth, easy flow for customers to collect and return machines. Plus, the extra road exposure is a big win—it means more people will see the range of equipment we’ve got ready to go, right from the street.

Once we saw what the new site could offer, it was a no-brainer. We made the call to relocate—and things moved fast. It was a quick turnaround, but the team is really pulling together to make it happen. We’re super excited to welcome everyone to the new yard at the start of June.”

The logistics of the move

Talking to Hugo, Napier Branch Manager for Allways Hire, you get a real sense of the juggle that the team have to perform to manage the relocation. Hugo currently has to wear 2 hats in his role. He’s busy inputting into the new yard development that is being co-ordinated by Allways Hire’s Operations Manager, Simon, and he’s also managing the day-to-day experience for Allways Hire customers at the existing yard until it closes on 30 May.

“Yeah, it’s been a really busy time, but also really exciting. While the new site’s been coming together, our focus here at the current yard has been making sure there’s no disruption for our customers. People still need to collect and return gear every day, so we’ve been doing everything we can to keep things running just as they should.

[Simon has] been leading the charge on the new yard, managing everything from the layout and logistics to making sure the facilities are right and the space works for all our gear. It’s been a big job, and he’s doing an awesome job bringing the vision to life.

It’s really exciting. The [new] location is great—easy to access, heaps of road exposure, and it’s been set up to make pick-ups and returns super smooth for our customers. It’s going to be a big step forward for us and for the people we serve. We’re all looking forward to seeing it in action.”

Bringing it all together with marketing

Oakley is head of Marketing at Allways Hire and he’s in charge of communicating the new branch move. A move to a new address triggers a lot of communication requirements – from internet listings to website changes and operational documentation updates. Oakley talks us through what’s involved.

“Yeah, there’s a lot happening behind the scenes! The big goal is making sure our customers know we’re moving—and that they head to the right place from day one. That means updating everything: signage at both the old and new branches, our locations online, and even all our paperwork. It’s a full refresh.

We’re using every channel we’ve got—emails to our customer base, regular updates on our socials, and telling people as they are coming into our yard. It’s all about keeping people in the loop and building a bit of excitement along the way.”

Oakley’s also in charge of capturing footage of the move so that customers can enjoy a “fly on the wall” experience as the new branch is prepared for their arrival. Keep an eye on the Allways Hire social media pages for some great video footage of the hard work and preparation that’s going on. And of course it wouldn’t be a celebration if the team didn’t fire up the BBQ:

“Absolutely! We’re planning a BBQ lunch on the first week of June— we’re going to be offering burgers during lunch times of the first week, which will give a chance for everyone to check out the new site. It’s a way to say thanks to our customers and give them a positive welcome to the new yard.”

Would you like more information about the Allways Hire Napier branch move?

Where is the new Allways Hire Napier Yard?

30 Corunna Bay, on the corner of Corunna Bay and Hyderabad Road.

When will we move?

Our new yard will open on Tuesday 3 June at 7am – after King’s Birthday Weekend

When will the current Napier Yard close?

18 Thames St (current yard) closes 5pm Friday 30th May

Read our article on the relocation and if you need any further information you can call the Napier branch on 06 651 5050 or email Hugo at hugo@allwayshire.co.nz