No need to wait with bated breath, at last the definitive history of the world's best-known pest control business is here. The Pest Detectives tells the true story of a great and innovative brand over its 90-year history.
It's a tale of fascinating characters and outstanding achievements. From the brilliant yet tragic figure of Harold Maxwell-Lefroy, Britain's first Imperial Entomologist and one of the foremost scientific minds of the early 20th century; to the formidable Bessie Eades, a tireless female entrepreneur who more than held her own by wheeler-dealing in a man's world. From Anglophile Danish expat Karl Gustav Anker-Petersen, an authoritarian with a taste for the finer things in life who built a pest control powerhouse and relocated it to a splendid English country house (he also happened to be an indefatigable fundraiser for the purchase of Spitfires during WWII); to a pivotal merger in the 50's, rapid internationalisation in the 60's, market-leading R&D, diversification on a grand scale in the 80's and 90's and finally a renewed focus on what Rentokil has always done best: pest control of the highest standard.
This is a book about how leading businesses are built and run, and much more. It's a story about the people at the frontline of Rentokil - the pest detectives. How business has changed over 90 years and how society has changed. Of course, what hasn't changed? The pests. This book also tells you all about them from the experts and contains a handy guide to common household pests - and what to do about them.
Rentokil has never been averse to exploiting the power of publicity, as shown by its historic Real Pied Piper of Hamelin campaign and today's pop-up Pestaurants, catching the attention by serving up bug cuisine. But the main reasons for its longevity and continuing success are innovation, expertise, customer service and its people - 27,000 of them in 2015. Which is why it has been trusted time after time to preserve famous buildings and national treasures, while playing a vital public health role by preventing contamination and limiting the spread of diseases.
Author Rob Gray has been meticulous in his research, unearthing illuminating archive material and interviewing many former employees for their insights and personal recollections. There are some fabulous anecdotes. Yet as well as looking back, The Pest Detectives is very much a book about the business today: the culture, the strategy, an ongoing commitment to service and the significant investment in innovation and training required to ensure that Rentokil remains at the forefront of the pest control market for generations to come. Extensive interviews have been conducted with senior managers and with the 'pest detectives' and other key people on the frontline. What emerges is a picture of what the brand stands for and where it is going. A compelling picture of the greatest pest control business there has ever been.
There's always more than one pest.
But there's only one Rentokil.
For every copy of the book sold, Rentokil will donate £1 to Malaria No More.
- ISBN13 9780857195081
- Publish Date 30 October 2015
- Publish Status Active
- Publish Country GB
- Imprint Harriman House Publishing
- Format eBook (EPUB)
- Pages 296
- Language English
- URL http://harriman-house.com/pestdetectives/