THE successful Bristol van broker, Van Sales UK, is rebranding to Vanaways to increase the scope of its financial service offerings and to streamline its back office processes.
Under the new Vanaways heading, managing director Chris Jakeways says the company will continue with its van sales and leasing, but also offer car leasing along with an asset finance facility. Jakeways added that it will also be able to streamline company systems and processes, such as using the same invoice for vans, cars and asset funding, along with one email signature promoting all brand offerings.
The company was currently recruiting for car leasing executives to staff the car side of its business, with a new website under construction, too.
Our specialism is in van sales, from HP to leasing, and each month we sell some 250 vans and each month we deliver 250 vans. So overall we touch 500 businesses every month, all of whom have requirements for funding their businesses, whether that’s more vans, heavier commercials, cars, or plant and machinery. The change in name reflects the broader range of the acquisition methods we offer customers.
Chris Jakeways, managing director, Vanaways
The inclusion of asset finance and car leasing is also part of a bigger play to spread the company’s risk, particularly as Jakeways sees the current chip shortage affecting the automotive industry causing real sourcing issues for new vans.
“Vans seem to be sacrificed in order to get the chips into cars. The closure of the Ford factory in Turkey is causing a real issue for customers. So a broader range of financial services makes a lot of sense for us,” Jakeways adds. “In the meantime, despite the restrictions on supply, vans sales continue to be robust. Demand is phenomenal. It’s now just a question of getting the metal.”
Vanaways recently moved its entire operation to a new facility in Royal Portbury Docks in order to speed up customer delivery times.
Ralph Morton is the leading journalist in the leasing broker sector and editor of Broker News, the website which provides information and news for BVRLA-registered leasing brokers. He also writes extensively on the fleet and leasing market in both the UK and Europe.
