Gardeners’ retirement plans help business

Feb 11 2008 by Karen Dent, The Journal

RETIRED people with big gardens to care for are helping a firm selling diggers and construction equipment to grow.

Blaydon-based Duggan Plant Sales Ltd was set up seven months ago by Tony Duggan, 42, and business partner David Jackson, 44, to buy and sell equipment from large JCBs to mini-diggers.

David said: “We have the full range of track dumpers. We are selling more to small building companies and landscape gardeners and also to the public.

“We’ve had a few retired guys who have large gardens and want a mini-digger.”

David worked for three years as a digger driver for Tony’s plant hire business, which is running alongside the sales operation. He said: “I have been driving JCB diggers for most of my life.

“I have always wanted to work for myself. I have dabbled in buying and selling, so when the opportunity arose, I took it. Both of us have skills in the industry and sales are starting to pick up.”

The business, which also operates as a franchise for the Yamaguchi range of track dumpers, which are cheaper to buy than the widely-known JCBs, is looking to take on an additional member of staff later in the year.