A BUSINESSMAN from Maldon who began his own events hire company this year already has bookings as far ahead as 2020.

Liam Clarke, 28, says business has “gone crazy” since starting up Platinum Events Hire Ltd in January.

The company specialises in hiring high quality props and equipment for various events such as weddings, birthdays, parties, and baby showers.

Mr Clarke, of Fitches Crescent, had the idea of starting an event hire company up after working for several years in telecommunications.

During his first few months, he managed to secure a booking with British model and television personality Tamara Ecclestone, daughter of former Formula 1 Group Chief Executive Bernie Ecclestone, and her husband Jay Rutland.

The couple liked Mr Clarke’s services so much that they invited him back to supply props such as a huge light display of her name for her extravagant 34th birthday celebrations at her Kensington Palace Mansion.

Mr Clarke said: “The first few months of Platinum have been incredibly successful, it’s just gone crazy.

“Event hire is something I’ve been thinking about for some time, I worked many years in telecommunications and I saw the trait that many companies were all about doing things as cheaply as possible.

“But for me, it’s always been the case of looking at a certain prop, then looking at what we’d get for a more expensive price, and opting for that to hand over the highest quality experience as possible to clients.

“It makes the whole thing look very professional and we become more proud of what we deliver, and it then becomes more attractive for higher profile people to choose us.”

Following Ms Ecclestone’s birthday hire, Mr Clarke’s business was featured in national newspapers and magazines such as Hello and the Daily Mail through their coverage of the event.

He said this has led to a huge amount of interest and has led to bookings being placed for the next two years.

Mr Clarke added: “With big events people want to book well in advance, and following good word of mouth from Tamara’s event we’ve had people, including more celebrities, place orders dating to 2020.

“I never thought it could grow this much in such a short amount of time, it’s a business from a regular chap like me in Maldon, that’s now putting on events for the big names.”

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