Brothers in van

But it is clear from talking to Justin Holmes, that setting up as a specialist carrier company was the best move the brothers ever made, because of the amount of job satisfaction involved. The fact that their salaries are now reaching parity with their former jobs is the icing on the cake.

Justin, 32, used to work as general manager in an IT company, specialising in network support, while 35-year-old Dan managed an e-commerce company. The nature of their jobs meant they only saw customers when they had a problem.

"We were both very tired of what you would term negative communication in the industries we were in," Justin said.

So, when Dan suggested they start a business transporting goods for the antiques industry, he thought it was a great idea.

While Dan had briefly run a van in his early 20s, dropping off newspapers and hiring himself out with the van in the afternoons, it was the brothers' friendship with John Vaughan of Deddington-based Castle Antiques, that gave them the idea to target the antiques industry.

They discovered there was a niche for reliable, competitively-priced specialist carriers.

On the face of it, the job doesn't sound that exciting - they move things from one place to another, be it antiques, fine art, or pianos.

Based at Clifton, near Banbury, their bread-and-butter work is for the auction houses, but they are also sometimes instructed by solicitors to clear probate houses.

They also do domestic and commercial removals, and the brothers find a lot to enjoy.

"You're in a different environment every day, because you tend to be in someone's home, and nearly every day you meet someone new," Justin said.

"One of the real pleasures is when you're in an attractive home somewhere and they've got lots of beautiful furniture and you get to have a good look at it all."

They also like the people in the antiques industry.

Justin explained: "You are meeting people who are doing something they love and are working with things they have an interest in."

Another thing Justin likes is that most jobs are usually completed in a day.

"In the world of white collar work, anything is on-going. Problems can go on for a long time and I had trouble leaving that at the office.

"I'd always take it home with me and I just don't have that so much anymore, if at all. That's a good thing."

The two men are learning a lot about the antiques industry.

Justin explained: "Dan has taken more of an academic interest in terms of buying books and actually spending time with John Vaughan, garnering knowledge from those like him and chatting to people at auction houses."

"But I can appreciate something that has been well-made and well-designed and I guess from that, the value and history of something sticks in your mind, whether you're actually taking steps to learn or not."

The duo do not carry out valuations on goods, unless it is for something that they are planning to buy themselves.

But sometimes they see a piece which the auction house is not interested in and buy it, taking the amount off their bill and selling it on through a pitch at Cotswold Pine in North Aston.

Although they struggled in the first couple of years, the Holmes' soon built up a strong word-of-mouth reputation.

They are now constantly busy, even at traditionally quiet times of year, and often work ten-hour days.

Their success stems from their personal approach, taking time and care, which is appreciated at difficult times, such as clearing homes of the recently deceased.

Their people skills come from their mother Moira, who taught them to be courteous towards other people.

Justin said: "Although it is just a job to us, there are a lot of emotions involved, or can be. You just try to be respectful of that.

"We generate work from the auction houses and solicitors because of the way we carry ourselves and the way we communicate with clients.

"It's not just a couple of guys going out and throwing stuff in the back of the van."