A trip down memory lane

We meet Mark Lane, of Britannia Lanes, to discover how this inspiring Cornish business can help you move without the stress.

It’s that time of year when many of us are gearing up to move house in time for summer, perhaps even relocating to Cornwall to enjoy the fantastic lifestyle the county offers. But with all the excitement of getting the keys to that dream home and starting the next adventure, who wants to worry about the hassle of actually moving? There’s so much to think about, from packing your precious items to the sheer logistics of it!

“While it was great to visit wonderful places all over the UK, I was always glad to be back in Cornwall!”

Imagine if you could just relax, with the weight taken off your hands, safe in the knowledge that everything is taken care of, down to the very last detail. Well, the good news is you can! We visit the Britannia Lanes flagship depot in Truro, to meet Managing Director, Mark Lane, to discover how his business can help you realise the dream.

As we sit down to chat, joined by Mark’s daughter Sarah, it’s clear that family is at the heart of this Cornish business. Mark’s parents founded it in 1974, and he joined with his brother in 1978. From there, it grew steadily, gradually expanding into Devon and Somerset. Lanes officially became part of Britannia Group in 1989, providing greater the economies of scale of a national network. Yet for all this impressive expansion, the team never lose sight of their family values and where they came from, retaining that personal and inimitably Cornish touch.

“We’re one big team,” says Mark, who is warm and easily approachable. “People come to work here and stay forever! We currently have four fathers and sons working in the business. We take great pride in what we do, actively engaging with customers, asking lots of questions to discover their needs and address them.”

Britannia Lanes offers a tailored and bespoke approach for each customer. Whether it’s a short move round the corner, a relocation from Europe, or long-term storage, the team can help you find the solution for you. It could be something as simple as needing a short-term storage solution to keep your furniture safe, while you do that sitting room extension you’ve been talking about for years – the needs of the customer always remain at the forefront.

The company has always been at the vanguard of innovation, helping to set industry standards, keen to lead the pack, rather than following it. A recent innovation is remote video surveys, via a downloadable app – perfect for those who live out of county. Another is the online real price calculator, providing you a quick guide quote for a job instantaneously just by answering a few simple questions.

The whole approach is geared towards doing the hard work so you don’t have to; giving you more time to focus on what you really want to do – such as enjoying the lifestyle of living in Cornwall – this is so important to Mark and the team, because they cherish the Cornish lifestyle too!

Mark loves cycling around the county, often travelling 50 to 60 miles on a weekend, taking a scenic route down to the west then back up the north coast; or taking the King Harry Ferry to St Mawes, sometimes heading to The Nare, Veryan. Another favourite spot is Porthleven, stopping for a coffee at the Brewhouse.

This is all significant because the team’s love of their home county helps the company connect with customers’ needs. “I couldn’t think of living anywhere else,” says Mark. “In the early days, when my brother and I were working on the trucks, we saw all manner of places. While it was great to visit wonderful places all over the UK, I was always glad to be back in Cornwall!”

If you have a move coming up, or need a storage solution, why not contact Britannia Lanes now and see how they can help you start living the dream?