Overview
Wandsworth Sash Windows is a bespoke joinery business specialising in high-quality, made-to-measure pieces for residential and commercial properties. From initial design to production, delivery, and installation, the team handles it all, and much of what they transport is large, delicate, and custom-built.
For Operations Director Nathan Smith, having the right vehicle at the right moment is essential:
Our operations can change week to week, depending on what projects land. When you’re moving big or awkward joinery, reliable transport isn’t a nice-to-have, it’s the backbone of keeping everything running smoothly.
With fluctuating project demands and oversized items to move across London, flexibility and reliability became key priorities.
The Challenge
Like many trades-led businesses, Wandsworth Sash Windows needed transport they could depend on, without the long-term financial commitment and maintenance burden of owning a fleet:
“Van hire with Pace gives us dependable access to vehicles without the faff, especially when everyone’s busy at the same time.”
The team needed vehicles that could scale up or down alongside project workloads, ranging from urgent next-day installations to month-long bursts of activity.
The Solution: Pace Flexible Van Hire
Over the past year, the company has hired five or six vans through Pace, sometimes for just a week, other times for a full month. This flexibility allowed them to align transport capacity exactly with project needs.
They mainly hired medium wheelbase and long wheelbase vans, ideal for transporting large joinery pieces while still manoeuvring easily around London streets.
“Those van sizes are spot on for us, loads of space without feeling like you’re dragging a lorry through the city.”
The vans were used daily for workshop collections, material deliveries, client installations, and quick-turnaround jobs when deadlines shifted.
Why They Chose Pace
Nathan and the team compared Pace with other hire companies, but the difference was clear:
“Pace were more flexible, more straightforward, and just easier to deal with. Communication was quick and honest, and the pricing was fair. The other companies felt rigid, Pace felt like real people who get how fast-moving our industry is.”
Competitive rates, reliable availability, and a supportive team made Pace the right fit.
Impact on Their Business
Van hire from Pace brought several advantages:
- Stability and predictability in daily operations
- Easier project planning, even during busy phases
- Reduced stress, thanks to a reliable transport setup
- More confidence to take on larger jobs
“Having vans ready when we need them means fewer delays and fewer headaches. It keeps the team focused on the work instead of worrying about how we’re getting to site.”
Cost-wise, the benefits were clear too:
“No surprise repairs, no last-minute rental costs, no downtime. Budgeting’s been miles easier.”
Real Moments That Made a Difference
Nathan recalled several occasions where Pace’s quick service helped them keep projects on track:
“We had a job where we needed a van that day to get a customer over the line, Pace sorted it immediately. Another time, we needed a van big enough to collect some huge joinery pieces from a workshop. Without it, production would’ve stalled. They’ve saved our bacon more than once.”
Vehicle Reliability & Maintenance
Nathan rated the vans highly:
“The vans have always been in great condition – clean, reliable, and well looked after. When we did have an issue, like a battery dying out of the blue, Pace swapped the van straight away. No drama, no delays.”
Maintenance and servicing were consistently handled quickly and professionally.
The Pace Experience
Customer service is where Pace made the biggest impression:
“Outstanding. Honestly. The team are friendly, switched-on, and they actually listen. You’re talking to people who care, not some script in a call centre.”
Flexibility was another standout factor:
“Whether we needed to upscale, downsize, or swap a van, they made it easy. It’s a proper partnership.”
Modifying hire periods was also smooth and straightforward, helping them adapt to shifting workloads.
Overall Satisfaction
The verdict from Wandsworth Sash Windows is overwhelmingly positive.
“We’re extremely satisfied. Reliable, cost-effective, flexible – exactly what a busy, project-led business needs. They make van hire easy, and that saves us time, money, and stress.”
When asked if they’d recommend Pace, Nathan didn’t hesitate:
“Absolutely. No question.”
They plan to continue using Pace for future projects and have only one small suggestion:
“An online dashboard to manage bookings would be handy, but even without it, the service is spot on.”
They also mentioned that occasional access to specialist vehicles like tippers, low loaders or extra-long wheelbase vans would be useful, though the current fleet already meets most of their needs.
The Outcome
With Pace’s van hire, Wandsworth Sash Windows gained:
- Transport that scales exactly with their workflow
- Reliable, well-maintained vans suited to large joinery
- Faster project turnaround and fewer delays
- A friendly, flexible team who “get it”
- Cost predictability and stress-free logistics
For a business built on quality craftsmanship, keeping projects moving smoothly is essential. Pace is proud to support them with transport that’s as dependable as their workmanship.
Need flexible, reliable vans that move with your workload? Speak to Pace today and keep your projects running smoothly.
