Rolling through the generations

In 1968, Geoffrey Harris started selling second-hand tyres from his farm on the outskirts of Liskeard. Initially selling tyres to local farmers, the business soon expanded, employing three tyre fitters.

Over the next twenty years, the business continued to grow. Having outgrown the purpose-built shed erected on the farm in the 1970s, Geoffrey, his wife Kathleen and their son Michael moved the business in 1986 to its current depot on Station Road in Liskeard.

A reputation for excellent service and quality tyres

Throughout its 55 years, the business has grown by word of mouth and developed a reputation of being the go-to tyre company if you want competitively priced tyres from a reliable local company. The family’s ethos of supplying and fitting only quality branded tyres, which they would put on their own vehicles and tractors, has stood them in good stead.

Further growth has continued, and today Geoffrey Harris Tyres employs 15 staff, supplies and fits tyres throughout Devon and Cornwall, and supplies tyres to customers in the Isles of Scilly and Somerset. The business is as committed to helping farming and rural communities today as it was when it was established in the 1960s.

Three generations of succession

Geoffrey and Kathleen established the business and created a successful company with people who shared their values. This legacy continued when Michael joined the business in 1984, and his wife Jo began working in the office in 1992. Together, they worked alongside Geoffrey and Kathleen, achieving a seamless transition when the founders retired in 2009.

As well as running the business with Jo, Micheal supplies and fits tyres and goes out to meet customers. Jo runs the office and oversees all aspects of the accounts and administration. The future of the business is also looking rosy, as Michael and Jo’s son, Tom, will be the third generation to take on the mantle of running the business in the future. Tom currently works on the fitting side and is getting more involved with the management role in preparation for taking over the business when his parents retire.

Current and future challenges

Managing cost fluctuations and staff recruitment are two of the biggest challenges the business has faced in recent years and is likely to keep dealing with in the future. As with many companies, Geoffrey Harris Tyres has been affected by increased raw material costs, with some prices rising between 20-25% in one year.

Hiring staff can also be tricky, particularly on the fitting side, which is a physically demanding job. However, the company has an excellent reputation for retaining staff, with most of the workforce having been with them for ten years or more and some as long as 20-30 years.

A century of accountancy support

The Harris family, dating back to Geoffrey’s grandparents, have used Haines Watts and its predecessor accountancy firms for over 100 years. Recently, Haines Watts has worked closely with Michael and Jo to modernise the systems so that the business runs more smoothly and to assist with the transition to the next generation.

 

The team at Haines Watts have made a huge difference in how we run the business, from Sage software training and automating our accounting processes to sorting the payroll and doing the yearend accounts. They have been very proactive in providing practical tax planning advice and how best to use capital allowances and pension contributions. I have always found them to be very approachable and open to discussing how best to do things. - Jo.