About Us
Wednesday, 16 July 2008 10:30
The business was established in 1982 with the purchase of Thunder & Clayden Ltd in Bournemouth, a local wholesaler of stationery and toys to independent retailers with additional ‘cash and carry' facilities.
We recognised the early growth and potential of the convenience store and increasingly directed our attention to this market to become a ‘one stop' solution to their non food core and promotional product ranges. The constant pressure from the supermarket groups and subsequent widespread reduction of independent retailers has further concentrated our speciality so that we have streamlined all our systems towards the multiple retail market from small groups of 10 stores to national groups with 1200 stores.
We established an import division in 1985 which used our purchasing volumes in the retail trade to reduce basic cost price and develop own branding and themes for product promotion. We saw the need for our own design and created an Art Department which provides all our packaging designs, brochure work and liaises with contacts in the Far East. This experience has enabled us to open a bulk supply company, Humatt Ltd, which deals in carton quantities to wholesalers and direct depot facilities.
Experience and personnel has grown with the company. We sought Kevin Pickering in 1996; he had considerable contacts with the Far East selling into the UK wholesale sector. Bramley Sparks our buying director of everyday products is now respected as one of the leading lights in the trade and has keenly developed a sense of price negotiation. Some six years ago Terry Pugh joined and is now Sales Director; as an ex-director of a leading convenience store group he has brought considerable professionalism to our sales and marketing policy. Our acquisition of Berry King Agencies has expanded our multiple contacts throughout the Midlands and Northern England and brought with it very experienced sales personnel. We also enjoy a ‘raft' of younger managers reporting to their respective directors who have served with us through the ranks.
Our operational facilities have developed to accommodate the different aspects of our trade. The warehouse at Ferndown (36,000 square feet) is devoted to retail distribution with ‘picking and packing' everyday orders and housing our office facilities. Shillingstone (46,000 square feet) is divided into four connected units dealing with our bulk carton supply and storage only. Our head office (11,000 square feet) is divided into purpose built showrooms (which cover a 4,000 square foot area). Humatt sales and marketing is on the ground floor, (this covers a 6,000 square foot area) also a repacking facility which connects with warehousing facilities in Shenzhen, China. Our company supplies over 4000 retail stores with a full distribution cover across the UK.
Perkins Group has maintained a steady growth and 2008 has seen the continued development with increasing non food ranges as well as branded toys and Christmas promotional catalogues. Our turnover for 2008 is expected to reach £17 million having quadrupled in the last 5 years. Our turnover is expected to exceed £20 million by 2010. With extension of range and focus , the company is proud of its association with major retail groups and the expanding area of FOB purchasing through its offices in Hong Kong.
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