Charlie Church of East Kent Locksmiths got in-touch to tell us about his journey into locksmithing and how (now) he wouldn’t want to do anything else, joining forces with his father Chris. The duo has big plans for the future and plenty of entertaining stories along the way.
My Journey into Locksmithing
Before becoming a locksmith, I worked as an estate agent, where I frequently relied on locksmiths for various jobs. That sparked my interest, and I decided to train with MPL course based in Wakefield, Leeds. After that, I worked at a university managing student courses from 9-5, which gave me the flexibility to set up my business.
I joined CheckaTrade, created a website (which I did myself), and got started with Google Ads. I also bought a van and had it sign written for professionalism and marketing. The branding on the van has paid off more than I expected – people have even told me they’ve spotted my van in Tesco’s car park. It works!
Now, I can’t see myself doing anything else. Every day brings a new challenge, and I love it. Helping people who are locked out or locked in is so rewarding. I meet new people all the time, and that’s one of the things I enjoy most about the job.
A Funny Story: Cat Stuck in Bathroom
One funny story that comes to mind, we had a late night call out for a customer whose cat had managed to lock themselves in the downstairs bathroom! Unsure how this could have happened, we got straight in the van and headed to the job. On the way, Chris and I decided to have a little bet on what colour the cat would be when we get the door open, I thought ginger and he went for tabby. We arrived at the customer’s house and started working on the door and lock. After a short time, we popped the door open and to both our surprise the cat was actually bald. Trying to stay professional, we gave the hairless cat a stroke and finished the job. It was safe to say neither of us saw that coming…
My Favourite Brands
In terms of supplies, I work with brands like Duffell’s, Versa, TSS, and Yale. Since I’ve only got a small van, I stock a few of each type of lock. For bigger mechanisms, I can always get what I need from Duffells or MPL, which has been invaluable to me.
I also stock high-security locks like Ultion, ABS, and more recently smart locks, which are great for things like Airbnbs. Smart locks are a niche I’m exploring, particularly Nuki, backed by Ultion and Yale. They’re popular with businesses and people looking to expand on their smart home tech. Nuki connects to Bluetooth and your phone, so you don’t even need to touch the lock.
Planning Ahead
Looking ahead, I plan to keep growing. My dad, who used to work in telecom engineering for BT, now works part-time with me. He’s fully qualified with MPL, and I wouldn’t be where I am without him. He’s looking to come on fulltime as the business grows.
One of the next steps for my business is expanding into UPVC repairs. I’m also considering auto locksmithing, though it’s expensive. Fitting secondary locks to vans is another avenue I’m thinking about. I’ve also recently purchased a key cutting machine for the van, which my customers love. It’s especially handy because I can cut spare keys for customer when I install their new lock– the most I’ve done is 17 keys for one customer!
Always Looking for Bigger Challenges
My dad and I often travel together for bigger jobs, like full house lock changes or replacement mechanisms. Looking to the future, I’m excited about continuing to grow East Kent Locksmiths and offering even more services to meet customers’ needs.
East Kent Locksmiths
07359 540322