More on UK salvage yards

I have visited a number of yards this week and seen many different styles of operation and varying success stories.
The most successful yard was run by a father and son team who are big into exporting and believe that relationship and trust are the keys to successful business. They recently received an e-mail from a customer in S E Asia who told them that they had been recommended by his father - checking records highlighted that they had done business with the father in the late 70's and early 80's. what better recommendation can you get?
The poorest yard was still being operated in the style of the 1980's, reliant upon local customers, not willing to advertise or use technology to promote the business - unless this yard gets a major influx of enthusiasm and ideas it will, to put a Monty Python slant on it, cease to be.
Most yards are specialising, know what sells well and where it sells, and working very hard to make a living for the owners and provide steady employment for the staff, all done in the face of increased competition, greater red tape, Environment Agency demands, and increased costs, but they seem to be the forgotten face of the business, recycling 85% of each vehicle, ensuring that environmental standards are at the highest ever, and keeping local government and national Government at bay by complying with all requests - however stupid and time consuming.
Support them where you can, buy previously used parts for your own or your friends cars, and ensure that scrap vehicles always go to licensed operators, otherwise the next time you wnat them they may not be there, or the parts you need will have already been exported.