Milestones in The Abels' Story

1958
Delivering goods to and from salerooms

1962
The company names itself THE SAFE REMOVAL COMPANY under the management of the Abel Family, father Noel and son Tony.

1971
The removal business is renamed ABELS OF WATTON. Purchase of 81/2 acres of land in Watton Norfolk

1978
Final Stores are built giving a total of 54,000 sq ft for storage on the Watton Site

Abels move into Distribution of new furniture with local furniture manufacturer Beresford & Hicks.

1979
The Young Drivers scheme starts with Abels having licence numbers 1 and 2 on this National Transport Training Scheme. Up to 12 youngsters per annum were on this scheme with Abels for many years.

1980
Now with over 20 vehicles the company employs a General Manager who asks 'where are you going with the business?'

1981
The first branch is opened in Huntingdon by the purchase of Elphicks

Abels are proud to move all the wedding presents for Prince Charles and Princess Diana

1982
Company buys removal business of Percy Wigg, Lowestoft.

1984
Start Crown Suppliers contract for Government, distributing office furniture nationwide from Milton Industrial Estate Abingdon

April saw the launch of a London presence in a 15,000 sq ft facility at St Albans

Introduced the first Plain English Trading Conditions in the industry.

A new purpose built facility is completed in Huntingdon 18,000 sq ft, old premises vacated.

1986
January acquire Fahies of Colchester with warehouse, vehicles and staff. Recruit Branch Manager.

1987
February 1987, 439 days of attitude, motivation and customer care training commences for all staff

New warehouse with mobile racking opens in May. 40 ft high racking 700 modules, 4 high, a maximum of 1,000 tonnes of weight can be moved at 3 m.p.h.

M & S contract starts delivering 100 pieces of Peter Black (Jentique) furniture per month.

1988
Phase 2 of mobile racking transit store completed, an extra 18,000 sq ft. Total now 33,000sq ft

August sees us win the Nat West furniture distribution contract at Waltham Cross.

Awarded The Royal Warrant to H.M. The Queen.

1989
January Brandon opens providing an additional 35,000 sq ft of warehouses and 4,000 sq ft office space.

1990
Carpet fitting service is started for M & S.

1991
Hays group successfully negotiate the purchase of Abels as winners out of four companies bidding.

Business split into three;

Retail and Home Delivery (branded Hays) merged with similar Hays business under Abels CEO Robert Crosthwaite
Removals (branded Abels) under Abels CEO Philip Pertoldi.
New office furniture and installation (branded Bucks later changed to Hays also) under Hays CEO

1992
Robert Crosthwaite leaves to set up his own business.

1993
Abels joins UTS as a Shareholder. Later Philip Pertoldi becomes Chairman of the UK Company

1994
Abels Moving Services attain BS EN ISO 9001.

Major contract £1 million signed with Philips Radio Communications.

1995
Investors in People awarded

1996
Major Contract signed with Dupont for Crating and Export services

1997
MBO/MBI took place with Philip Pertoldi, Robert Crosthwaite, John Guilford

1998
Undertook major Hotel refurbishment projects for Hypnos Furniture Manufacturers and Whitbread Hotels.

2001
Review of Corporate Identity
started with Zulver & Co, along with the appointment of Chelgate as PR Managers and The Marketplace as Advertising Agency.

2002
New PR, Advertising and Creative strategies agreed and implimented to reinforce Abels position in the market spaces.

2003
Gained new home delivery contracts with The John Lewis Partnership and Wesley Barrell.