PlaceMakers trials Hilti for Hire tool lease

PlaceMakers has partnered with Hilti to provide a tool lease service trial at five PlaceMakers stores across the country: Kaiwharawhara, Mt Wellington, New Lynn, Dunedin and Riccarton 

Builders making an early morning supply run to PlaceMakers can now satisfy their tool hire requirements on the same trip, thanks to a new partnership between Hilti and PlaceMakers – Hilti for Hire.

PlaceMakers Category Manager (Tools), Tracie Rundle, says the initiative aligns with PlaceMakers aim to provide a streamlined, ‘one-stop shop’ service to make life easier for its builders and reduce downtime onsite.

“Our in-store Hilti for Hire service means builders can now get their supplies and hire tools all in one place. And, to make life even easier, the tool hire cost can just be added to their PlaceMakers trade account.”

Hire power

“Contractors hire tools every day,” says Chris Barlow, Business Development Manager for Hilti. “Tool hire is built into the budget for most projects, and it plays a crucial role in completing them. It’s exciting to see PlaceMakers enter this market, and further strengthen their offering to their customers.”

Chris says the service will be particularly attractive to builders, who use big-ticket items frequently but don’t always want to make the financial commitment of owning more expensive pieces of equipment.

“These are tools that get used a lot but the high purchase cost doesn’t make sense for a lot of builders to own them outright.”

While PlaceMakers stocks an extensive range of tools available to purchase, the partnership with Hilti will expand its tool selection and provide builders with additional options they wouldn’t have been able to find in-store previously.

Building breadth

“It’s an exciting move for us and Hilti,” says Tracie. “We’ll have gear available such as heavy concrete breakers, M-Class Dust Extractors, 40L wet and dry vacuum cleaners, core drills, battery powered concrete demolition saws, wall breakers, large angle grinders and more.”

Tracie says the service will also be useful for when builders drop their own tools off for servicing.

“We have rental options to cover their needs while their tools are away. Customers will be able to rent for a length of one day upwards, with no limits on how many days or months. If a store doesn’t stock a tool that a customer needs, it can be requested – subject to a minimum order of three months.”

Tools can also be pre-booked by talking to the tools team in-store.

The arrangement brings clear benefits to builders in terms of the breadth of stock PlaceMakers can now offer and Chris notes that Hilti is a brand few third-party retailers can provide access to. 

“We don’t retail through third parties anywhere in the world, we only sell direct. The closest a retailer can get is to offer them for hire in-store.”

Perfect partner

The partnership has been in the works for nearly 12 months, and Chris says PlaceMakers hit all Hilti’s criteria.

“We wanted to partner with someone with a large footprint to help us meet our goal of increasing our coverage across New Zealand. Additionally, PlaceMakers customers are engaged on a variety of contracts – from large ones with the likes of Fulton Hogan or Downer down to private residential builds and extensions.

“We see this as a great opportunity to open up to customers, who might not have previously been exposed to Hilti.”

For PlaceMakers, Hilti’s trusted and reputable reputation made the brand an ideal partner.

“Hilti has a proven international record with rental tools and aligns with PlaceMakers trade offering, which is great news for our valued customers,” says Tracie.