Do hire and sales mix - or are they different business models?

Dealers often stock a few specialist machines to hire, or loan machines to cover breakdowns.

However, they tend to view hire as time-consuming and risky with excessive paperwork to cover health and safety issues. They also believe hire takes away sales opportunities.

Max Pearce sees things differently. He runs a plant hire company in Southampton and recently bought a local garden machinery dealership - and now runs both businesses side-by side as one company.

He tells Chris Biddle about the benefits of an additional, and complementary, income stream - and of providing a valauble service to the cruise ship sector.

Chris first reflects on the way firms like Cazoo and Cinch have disrupted the established second-hand car market - and wonders whether 'disruptors' might have an impact on the agri-turf machinery sector

Exsel Plant Hire