Our Story - An interview with Steve & Aubrey, founders of Rhino Shrink Wrap

Steve & Aubrey, the founders of Rhino Shrink Wrap, talk about how they got started with shrink wrap and share their advice for starting your own shrink wrap business.

How did you start shrink wrapping

Aubrey

In December 2003, I was taking a vacation in Boston, Masachussets. Whilst taking a walk along the waterfront, I came across some large sailing yachts that were being stored ashore in cradles. These yachts had been shrink wrapped to protect them against the tough winter weather that the American North East experiences. I was immediately intrigued by the look of the shrink wrap – it was so smooth and tightly wrapped around the boat that it almost looked like it had been sprayed on. It was such a contrast to the flapping tarpaulins and boat covers I was used to seeing in the boatyards back home in England.

I’d always had that ‘itch’ to start my own business and just a few months later, I quit my job to start a business providing a shrink wrap installation service in the South West England. My first office was the spare bedroom at home, my warehouse was a shipping container and I practiced my shrink wrap skills on boats that I found abandoned & overgrown in local boatyards.

Steve

It’s funny because we don’t shrink wrap that many boats in the UK nowadays but it was the marine industry that first got me involved in the shrink wrap business too! I’d always been interested in boats and sailing and I first saw boats shrink wrapped for the winter in Southampton, England. I’d run a transport company for many years but I set up my first shrink wrapping company called ‘Plaswrap’ in 2009. We were a small team with everybody ‘on the tools’; even my Dad helped out occasionally!

Why did you set up Rhino Shrink Wrap?

Aubrey

I ran first shrink wrap company for about 8 years and in that time the business grew from a startup into a multi million turnover shrink wrap company. However, I felt ready for a new challenge. I sold my share of the business and headed once again to the USA & Canada for a few months to get inspiration & ideas for a new business. Most of the ideas I worked on in this period did not develop into a business – except for one! When I eventually returned to the UK I founded an inflatable construction tent company called ‘Fast Tent’ (now called Njordair).

I’d never planned to start shrink wrapping again but the break had given me fresh ideas and in 2014 Steve & I joined forces to founded a new shrink wrap company. We decided to call it Rhino Shrink Wrap, as we felt that this was a distinctive brand which would reflect the tough nature of the products we wanted to create.

Steve

When I was growing up, in my local area there was a construction company called Pochin and they had an elephant as their logo which was very distinctive. The Rhino Shrink Wrap brand was partly inspired by the Pochin logo I saw on the side of their trucks as a kid.

Why is Rhino different to other shrink wrap companies?

Aubrey

Our biggest difference is that we are not just a supplier of shrink wrap materials. Because we have also installed shrink wrap materials for many years we advise our customers how to install it. This focus on knowledge and education means we are the only shrink wrap company in the world to offer an online certified shrink wrap training.

Steve

I think that many shrink wrap manufacturers don’t really understand how the end users are working with the shrink wrap. We have the closest possible relationship with our factory. Aubrey and myself have a combined 30 years of shrink wrap installation experience, whilst the factory have one of the most advanced shrink wrap production lines in Europe & experience manufacturing highly technical shrink wrap films. That combination of experience benefits our customers.

What’s the best thing about running a shrink wrap business?

Aubrey

‘Shrink Wrapping’ might not sound like the most exciting business but it never gets boring as every job presents you with a different challenge. As a shrink wrapper you get to work in a wide variety of places (that often would not normally be accessible to the general public).

Steve

My favourite bit of running shrink wrap businesses is getting to know customers, suppliers & installation partners from all over the world. Over the years, many have become good friends.

What are the challenges faced by the business?

Aubrey

The cost of shrink wrap materials is rising at the fastest rate for many years. We try to absorb these rises but of course this is not always possible. Because most shrink wrap looks the same when it is folded and rolled for sale, our challenge is to help customers understand that you really do ‘get what you pay for’ and that ‘bargain price’ is probably at the price of reduced additives such as FR & UVI and this can lead to much bigger costs in the long run (such as when covers blow off).

Steve

Although shrink wrap, particularly when used to encapsulate a construction project, is used to protect the environment, we have to work harder on improving sustainability in general. At Rhino Shrink Wrap we have been focusing on driving environmental awareness through our online education & training but there is much more to be done. Most recently we have invested in new machinery that allows us to convert jumbo rolls into custom size rolls for customers which reduces waste on site.

What advice would you give to somebody who is considering setting up a shrink wrap business?

Aubrey

Do it! The great thing about starting a shrink wrap business is you don’t need a big investment in materials and equipment to get up and running. You can start small, like Steve & did and just take things one job at a time, slowly building your skills and confidence with each job. It’s never too late – we’ve helped people of all ages and all backgrounds get up and running – you just need a willingness to get ‘stuck in’.

Steve

One of the most important lessons to learn is when you should say ‘no’ to a project. It’s not the jobs that you don’t win that will hurt your business but the ones you do! You don’t get paid until the money is in the bank so credit check new customers and keep an eye on your debtors!