Managing a Rural Business

Despite being Bournemouth based with most of its branches in the local conurbation, Barker Group generates 60% of their revenue from rural communities. “Probably 80% of our operation is in the town but it is from the country that we get the largest part of our turnover” say’s Managing Director Matthew Barker, “Our Laundry Collection & Delivery service is widely used throughout Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Surrey. It is in the country where the real wealth of the nation resides.”

Barker Group operates towards 30 routes every week delivering to nearly 2000 clients. A newly installed internet based tracker system ensures that each vehicle is maximised. Fuel wastage can spell disaster on a fleet covering approximately 500,000 miles a year. But the biggest advantage of the tracker system will soon be realised when Barker Group launch their internet based dry cleaning collection & delivery service across the South of England. “We are now in a position to direct our nearest vehicle to a client request on demand if required” continues Matthew, “Convenience is the most important factor in this busy age and this is even more critical in rural areas.”

One of the biggest drawbacks of operating in the country, however, is the weather. It may only be once or twice a year and for a brief period in the South but snow is the scourge of delivery services. This last January was the worst for many years and much of the country ground to a halt. Barker Group operated in some of the most inaccessible lanes and drives in the heart of the countryside. “We had one van stuck in a clients drive for two days this year. The customer received their laundry though and we managed to continue as much of the rest of the rounds with other vehicles but there were obviously a few we could not serve” explains transport Manager Miles Robbins. “The tracker system would have helped us keep tabs on the worst affected areas but we didn’t have it in January. Fortunately, these conditions are rare, I can’t remember the last time we couldn’t get a van to a customer and hopefully it won’t happen again for a long time.”

Much of the countryside depends on collection & delivery services and Barker Group sees much of its future growth coming from the countryside. The company intends to continue its growth in rural areas of Southern England and the new tracker system will ensure that the business continues to operate viably. Bournemouth based Barker Group is one of the largest independent Laundry and Dry Cleaning Company’s in the country.