A Norwich-based business which started as a 'man with a van' operation is eyeing further expansion after seeing its predicted turnover increase from £6,000 to £340,000 within five years.

Eastern Daily Press: Loads4Less van. The firm is run by Adam Soall and has increased its predicted turnover from 6,000 in 2010 to 340,000 for 2014/15.Loads4Less van. The firm is run by Adam Soall and has increased its predicted turnover from 6,000 in 2010 to 340,000 for 2014/15. (Image: Archant)

Low-cost removals specialist Loads4Less, run by former pub landlord Adam Soall, was established in 2010 at the height of the recession as a one-man one-van venture with a predicted first year turnover of £6,000.

Now, with a fleet of vehicles and nine full-time staff, the company which adopts an eco-friendly approach to removals is forecasting turnover of £340,000 for 2014/15 with an eye on 'significant' further expansion.

'It all started when I ran the Spread Eagle pub in Sussex Street with my wife Natasha in 2010,' said Mr Soall. 'We had been there for about a year and it was not working out, so we decided to do a 'man with a van' removals service.'

With £500 in the bank, he launched the Norwichmanwithavan.co.uk business with a rented van and a few printed flyers, moving single items or carrying out small house moves.

The business grew and evolved into Loads4Less, a name dreamt up by Mr Soall's late father Michael.

Loads4Less charges an hourly rate for local removals. The company also has a national and international market too, though still retains the low-cost removals concept by keeping the number of journeys down through load-sharing between customers.

Mr Soall, 35, said: 'That is also environmentally-friendly, which is important to us. We are a paper-free office, we try to keep journeys to a minimum and, by doing that, we reduce carbon emissions.

'We have a custom-built database which allows us to have a tight control over our business and vehicle movements.

'That incorporates a holding system which tracks return jobs from other parts of the country allowing us to give our customers great value for money on return journeys.

'By enabling our customers to be flexible on a date, we can combine loads to cut the cost and the number of journeys.

'It means we are not coming back from another part of the country with an empty van so customers save up to 50pc on their removals and we cut carbon emissions while continuing to give a good quality service.'

Loads4Less has a close working partnership with the Big Yellow Self Storage Company near Carrow Road in Norwich and has established an office on the site.

Alongside low-cost house removals and deliveries, Loads4Less provides a removals service for health professionals from hospitals across the country and he said clients included Premiership footballers.

It also has a service for students moving into the area or around Norfolk and with its partnership with the Big Yellow, offers a cost-effective storage option.

Have you got a business success story? Email kate.scotter@archant.co.uk