SELECTIVE HIGHLIGHTS FROM ABELS HISTORY

	1958 Started delivering goods to and from salerooms.
	1962 The company names itself THE SAFE REMOVAL COMPANY.
	1971 The removal business is renamed ABELS OF WATTON. Purchase of 8 acres of land in Watton. Acquired storage facilities in Swaffham.
	1972 Started building new warehouses in Watton.
	1976 First container warehouse completed for 600 storage containers.
	1978 Warehouses are completed giving a total of 54,000 sq ft for storage on the Watton Site. Abels move into distribution of new furniture with local company 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 from Abels. Training School recognised by the RTITB. Commenced M.O.D. contract for moves to Europe.
	1980 Now with over 20 vehicles the company employs a General Manager (Robert Crosthwaite) who asks ‘where are you going with the business?’
	1981 Philip Pertoldi appointed as Branch Development Manager. 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. Commenced Property Services Agency contract for all their moves to Europe.
	1984 Start Crown Suppliers 3 year 26 vehicle contract for distributing office furniture nationwide from Oxon . 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 18000 sq ft facility is completed in Huntingdon.
	1986 Acquire Fahies of Colchester with warehouse, vehicles and staff.
	1987 In February, 439 days of attitude, motivation and customer care training commences. 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. Marks & Spencer home delivery contract starts delivering 100 pieces of Peter Black (Jentique) furniture per month. Crown Suppliers extends contract for further 2 years.
	1988 Phase 2 of mobile racking transit store completed, an extra 18,000 sq ft. Total now 33,000sq ft. January for 9 days, complete largest move for Royal Household needing 30 staff. Awarded The Royal Warrant to H.M. The Queen. August, win the Nat West Bank Furniture Delivery contract at Waltham Cross.
	1989 Brandon opens in January providing an additional 35,000 sq ft of warehouses and 4,000 sq ft office space. 1989 awarded Motor Transport training award. Carpet fitting service is started for Marks & Spencer. New training school opened at Brandon. Regional winner of National Training Award also EDP Business Award for Customer Care. Robert Crosthwaite appointed President of the British Association of Removers (BAR). Staff from Buckingham Palace trained by Abels on furniture handling skills.
	1990 Moved the Duke and Duchess of Kent and the Duke and Duchess of York. Launched new Abels Logo and corporate ID (with yellow holding device).
	1991 Hays group successfully negotiates the purchase of Abels as winners out of four bidding companies. Business split into three Strategic Business Units (SBU’s); Retail and Home Delivery SBU (branded Hays) merged with similar Hays business. M.D Robert Crosthwaite. Moving Services SBU (branded Abels) includes commercial packing and freight forwarding. M.D Philip Pertoldi. New Office Furniture and Installation Services SBU (branded Bucks later changed to Hays) merged with similar Hays business
	1992 Cultural changes from family style firm to Plc. New video completed for Moving Services.
	1993 Abels joins UTS an international network company as a Shareholder. Training Centre relocated to Watton. Abels Moving Services attain BS EN ISO 9002. John Watson joins the team. Major export contract £1 million signed with Philips Radio Communications.
	1995 Investors in People awarded. Philip Pertoldi appointed Chairman of UTS UK & Ireland Ltd and Vice President of BAR.
	1996 Major Contract signed with Dupont for Crating and Export services.
	1997 Senior Management changes due to realignment of Hays core business strategy, and structure. During restructuring where does Abels really fit? As part of restructuring commercial export and crating services removed from Abels management team and placed in another Hays division. Philip Pertoldi appointed President of the British Association of Removers.
	1998 MBO opportunity completed in September 98, Robert Crosthwaite joins the business. Cultural change from Plc to family firm. December 98, moved whole Watton office complex to Brandon including staff. IIP Standard renewed after assessment. Grant of Royal Warrant renewed for further 10 years.
	1999 January to March moved 35,000 sq ft of warehousing to Brandon. Including 1400 special storage containers of household effects. Helped UTS over two years bid for DTMA Military moves 7 year Contract for 50,000 moves per annum.
	2000 Undertake major Hotel refurbishment projects for Hypnos Furniture Manufacturers and Whitbread Hotels. Program starts to upgrade vehicle fleet.
	2001 Review of Corporate Identity started with Zulver & Co, along with the appointment of Chelgate as PR Managers and The Marketplace as Advertising Agency. Abels revise the organisational pyramid to be even more customer focused.
	2002 New PR, Advertising and Creative strategies agreed and implemented to reinforce Abels position in the market spaces. Philip Pertoldi appointed Vice President of Sandringham Royal Warrant Holders Association.