Andrew Bullen’s decade at Doug’s Hiring
You don’t have to live in Nelspruit for very long to hear the name Doug’s Hiring being mentioned wherever there is an event happening. And even though Andrew Bullen is celebrating his 10th year as owner, the company itself is over 30 years old.
by Benno Stander

Andrew and Lisa Bullen
“It’s hard to believe that it’s been ten years when I think about it,” Andrew remarks, adding that “but the increasing number of grey hairs does give it away a little I guess.”
As Andrew flips through some old pictures of when he started in the business it is however quite clear that it’s been a very busy and productive decade for Doug’s Hiring. “We used to occupy only one of these buildings and all of our equipment could be shoved into a corner of the storage area. Now we occupy the whole row of buildings and everything is rather full.”
Doug’s Hiring was started by Doug Benkendorf who only ran it for about two years before Ken Graham took over from him. Ken owned the business for some 18 years before giving over the reins to Andrew.
Although Andrew was born in the Lowveld, he travelled throughout South Africa while working for a clothing chain store. Renovations and stock loss problems were his problem and eventually the corporate industry just got the better of him. “It was pure coincidence that at the same time I stepped out of my current job, Ken wanted to sell Doug’s Hiring,” Andrew remembers.
“I asked Ken a straight forward question.
Was it a profitable business? He said it was and that he believed there was room for expansion. I believed him and signed a two page handover document. Things were simple back then,” Andrew laughs.
The business has grown substantially and as more and more opportunities presented themselves Andrew just decided not to let one pass by. He had to go to Johannesburg often to get things he didn’t own so decided that it would be worth acquiring those items. In this way Doug’s Hiring started growing at pace up to where it is now.
“When I took over we could cater for about 400 to 500 people at a time and at the moment we can do about 2000 on a weekend. We used to have only about 1500 square metres of marquee tents where we now have in excess of 6000. And we don’t do the old style peg and pole tents any more but have moved over to high-end aluminium framed marquees that get imported from Germany.“
When asked about his recipe for success Andrew says, “Something that has always been important to me is our company’s image. When I bought the company it had a good name and in the past ten years I have striven to keep it that way. And the only way to do that is by really looking after your clients and community. “
Andrew’s Business Philosophy
“We are a hiring business so we hire out all sorts of things, but first and foremost I believe we provide a service. I believe we need to get it right the first time and if we do make a mistake, we fix it. Even if it means driving 100km to deliver a single teaspoon, we will do it.”
“Secondly I strongly believe that we need to give back. The community has been good to us and I believe it is our responsibility as a business, and the responsibility of any business, to give back where it can. There are too many challenges around for people to stand back and do nothing.”
Doug’s Hiring has been sponsoring many events and organisations like Cansa Night of a Thousand Stars, Hospice Ladies Golf Challenge and various schools and churches’ events.
When asked what Andrew does when he’s not working his wife Lisa is quick to respond with a jest, “That’s only between one and three in the mornings.” But according to him he tries to spend time with family out in the bush. “Our family has a little place at Olifants River where I like to take some time out to relax. Other than that I also enjoy Kruger National Park, or even just taking the dogs to the reserve behind my house. I don’t care too much for the big five and though I agree they are nice to see, I’m personally more interested in birds.”
Talk to us
For more about Doug’s Hiring visit www.dougshiring.co.za or call 013 753 2948