Stewart McKeown could talk for hours about shopping trolleys. Somewhat surprisingly, all his enthusiastically imparted knowledge is rather entertaining and enlightening. More impressive still, it’s of considerable value.

Just ask Safeway, Co-op, British Airways or cash and carry firm Makro. They’re among those willing to pay good money for Stewart’s expertise. That’s why last year the McKeown family firm TMS (UK) Ltd - Trolley Maintenance Service - serviced between 150,000 and 200,000 shopping trolleys at around 400 outlets throughout the UK. Those wobbly wheels that we’ve all cursed at some time or another are big businesses it seems.

For TMS, it started small back in 1986. Stewart’s father Tom had been made redundant after 30 years working as a tunnel engineer at Cardowan Colliery. During a subsequent job at Fine Fare distribution depot, he learned that they were inviting tenders for the maintenance of their trolleys. He put together a business plan with the help of his wife May, formed TMS and won the contract.

Originally, the business was run from a double garage at their High Blantyre home. Stewart left school aged 16 to join the firm and soon they had landed another contract with Gateway - now known as Sommerfield.

The company now operates from Knightswood Terrace, Blantyre, employing a total of 12 staff. Engineers travel the country in fully-equipped vans that are effectively mobile workshops. “We’ll visit most stores three times a year,” explains Stewart. “We don’t just go when there’s a damaged trolley. We’re also a preventative measure.”

Neither is TMS’s job to simply ensure our convenience. A damaged trolley is a dangerous trolley. “There have been cases of children toppling over in unstable trolleys,” says Stewart. There’s actually been three deaths in the US as a result, although none in this country. There’s also a risk of customers cutting their hands on sharp edges. Insurance companies now insist trolleys are maintained and the safety aspect is something we strongly emphasise to all our engineers.”

The other reason supermarkets are so keen on keeping their trolleys mobile is simple, straightforward profit. A recent study, estimated that each trolley that Safeway operates earns the company £80 an hour. A damaged trolley is an costly trolley. So too, is a missing trolley, with the cost of buying a new one ranging from £60 to £240.

Supermarkets tried to dissuade would-be trolley thieves with the £1-in-the-slot system, but it proved hugely unpopular. “They have been looking for something passive which is more attractive to customers for years now” says Stewart. Now, it’s arrived - adding another string to TMS’s bow. The company was tasked with installing the new system as a trial programme at Anniesland Safeway.

It sends out a radio signal which triggers a wheel lock rendering the trolley immobile whenever someone tries to push it beyond the supermarket’s boundaries. “Its very, very effective,” explained Stewart. “Another five stores in Scotland have been earmarked for it now.”

Working in partnership with South Lanarkshire Economic Development, Small Business Gateway Hamilton helped TMS access a joint property improvement grant from South Lanarkshire Business Venture Fund and North Hamilton and Blantyre Social Inclusion Partnership. The company put some of the money towards a CCTV system to monitor its premises 24 hours a day. It also helped tarmac the yard, upgrade the perimeter wall and paint the front gates. “That wouldn’t have taken place if it wasn’t for the assistance we received,” said Stewart. “We have customers visiting us here and we want to give them the right impression.”

For Stewart, that impression is of a forward thinking company looking to grow. TMS has already diversified to maintain and repair stock containers, roll pallets, other warehouse equipment and airport baggage trolleys. Stewart’s also eyeing up the possibility of opening up a satellite operation in the South of England to help the company win more contracts.

Yes. Trolleys are definitely big business. Something to think about next time that wheel wobbles as you approach the bakery aisle.

Business South Lanarkshire - Winter 2001

Return to Magazine Back Issue Index

Site Map