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P BUSINESS
Page 12
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Burnt Tree revenues rise by 14%
COMMERCIAL VEHICLE rental firm Burnt Tree Vehicle Solutions has reported its revenues are up 14% on this time last year.
It partly attributes this rise to firms that are reluctant to buy, and have opted to rent instead.
Burnt Tree has 17 branches nationwide, and also has 9,000 more vehicles than this time last year.
It says that the economic downturn has made some commercial vehicle operators less willing to commit capital to buying vans and trucks. Chief executive Richard Metcalfe says that the firm experienced a rise in shortterm and long-term rentals in 2008.
He said the increase in shortterm rentals was predicted, but the rise in long-term rentals was a surprise.
Despite the fact the rental business overall is doing well, there are bleaker spots. Metcalfe explains: "I wouldn't say we are recession proof. We've seen customers in the construction sector suffer in recent months."