Once upon a time, not far from Bradford, two boys were born. One brother, Gary, grew up to become a landscaper; the other, John, turned his hand to joinery. All was going well until one day John decided he’d had enough and called Gary to tell him about his new business idea…

So it’s not a fairy tale just yet, but things are definitely going well for the Ashley brothers so far, with plans for expansion already afoot after only two years. John tells me, “we have some friends at Walker Timber in Huddersfield and we spoke to Mark, who gave us plenty of useful advice. He said that European fencing panels would be taking off, so we did our research and found some suppliers in Poland and Latvia. Before we knew it, we’d jumped on a plane and after a guided tour around one of our supplier’s sites, we were so impressed, it all went from there.”

Gary adds, “we never intended to manufacture, just to supply a higher value product to those that needed it.” Despite setting up business and subsequently being hit by the timber shortages, the brothers were having one to two loads imported each week, though demand could have seen that doubled happily. With a small holding yard at their base in Bradford, the brothers have plans to expand, but they are also keen to keep stock fresh and moving from their hands straight to their clients, which include timber yards, builder’s merchants, and fencing contractors. Their bread and butter is seventy-five percent fencing panels, which Gary insists are the company’s priority, but Ashley Timber also provides its own posts, as well as a large range of European timber garden products including gazebos, which have proved popular with a number of hot tub companies.

It seems like Gary and John have worked hard to get the Ashley Timber name out and about, being pro-active, keen and constantly on the look out for opportunities and new customers. These two have plenty of get up and go about them, and the genuine enthusiasm that is the essential foundation of all long standing businesses. However, it’s not all about sales and new business; Ashley timber are keen to keep their existing clientele happy. “We offer flexibility to suit our customers by providing mixed and small loads to order. It is labour intensive that way, but as long as we are organised, we can combine drops to optimise both cost and time efficiency”, Gary says.

So far, the story is developing nicely, and when I ask about any interesting stories, amusing calamity and famous customers, Gary and John look at each other blankly, before Gary replies, “the truth is, we are just so efficient and business runs so smoothly that nothing interesting can happen.” Definitely a company motto in there somewhere. John adds, “in that case, let’s hope there’s a long future of nothing interesting happening!”

Indeed, I’m sure the Ashley brothers will continue with the level of efficiency that they pride themselves on; however, with some big plans ahead I’m sure exciting times are just around the corner. Gary tells me, “next year we are planning another trip and taking on more suppliers – and at the moment we have about forty stockists, but we’d like that to be a hundred,” John interrupts: “…five hundred”. Well at least this sibling rivalry is all in the name of ambition. Gary continues, “currently we deliver within about a sixty mile radius, but we are extending the yard and eventually looking to cover the whole of the North of England. We’ll be buying another wagon next year and employing a full time driver to help us out, as well as someone to run the yard.”

With plenty to be getting on with, panels to be delivered and ambitions to nurture, it certainly seems that Ashley Timber is well on its way to recognition and success. At The Fencing & Landscaping News, we’re positive this story will end happily ever after.

To contact Gary or John, call 01274 832700 or email sales@ashleytimber.com