Toyota

Toyota WA’s Operations Manager, Glen Bolton, explains why his company has relied on Signature for 20 years and plans to keep going for some time yet.

Glen Bolton, Operations Manager for Toyota WA, handles the receiving and distribution of vehicles — from Camrys to LandCruisers — from the moment they arrive at Fremantle Port to when they are delivered to dealer showrooms.

It is a huge job, says Bolton: "In any given month we handle some 3,000 vehicles." And, it is one he has been doing for 20 of his 40 years with the company.

Having started out as an apprentice mechanic, Bolton puts the longevity of his employment down to his boss, Perth billionaire Stan Perron.

Perron, ranked number 10 in the list of Australian billionaires, according to 2008’s Forbes magazine global rich list, acquired the franchise in 1962 and it is one of only three privately owned dealerships in the world, the rest are owned by Toyota.

The franchise now supplies WA with Toyota’s quality vehicles.

Bolton says: "The biggest thing with Toyota is we have got a great network of sales and
a great network of service."

But, discerning car buyers are not the only ones attracted to Toyota — so, too, are thieves.

The Kewdale premises in WA is comprised of yards, warehouses and workshops. It is the first stop for new vehicles to have equipment fitted, such as audio and remote locking and was a prime crime target 20 years ago, which was when the relationship with Signature Security began.

As a starting point, Signature (then Consolidated Security) installed an electric fence around the complex. As the premises have expanded, so have the security requirements.

Glen Bolton - Operations Manager, Toyota WA

"I have been dealing with Signature now for close on 20 years," says Bolton. "We were new to all this and we were having lots of cars being stolen out of our premises. In the early days, when there weren’t many security companies around, they came out here and talked to us and asked us what we wanted and they came up with this electrification of the fencing. I think we were one of the pioneers in WA for it. From there we increased our security with cameras, sensors, gates, you name it."

"Now, Signature handle all our security," says Bolton, "including Toyota WA’s Perth admin offices and other Perron Group premises."

To Bolton, an important factor is the speed of service.

"They give us good service backup. As soon as there are any faults or anything, they are out here to rectify them. With monitoring of our security, no sooner does a sensor go
off and, they are ringing and letting us know," says Bolton.

"If there is an issue, in regards to anything to be done, it is dealt with virtually immediately. That’s what you want. You know, a lot of these other organisations know how to sell you something, but when something goes wrong you can’t get anything done."

Management is also an important factor.

"The biggest thing I would say, personally, I like about Signature, is the management that I speak to, mainly Tim [Vickridge] who I have a lot of dealings with, who is very responsive and very good," says Bolton.

While plenty of other security companies still knock on his door, Bolton says he will not be changing.

"Why leave someone who is giving you good service and chance your hand with something else?" Bolton asks, emphatically adding that he would always recommend Signature Security.