Print business takes rapid growth in its stride

East Lancashire printing services firm Text Styles UK is generating powerful growth, while keeping profitability on track, thanks to Boost Business Lancashire’s Growth Mentoring programme.

The family-run business is also working with Nelson & Colne College to recruit two more apprentices in addition to its seven-strong workforce, which already includes two apprentices.

Colne-based Text Styles UK started life in the garage of Barry Jordan, father of current managing director Tom Jordan. Since then the business has grown significantly and now offers a comprehensive range of printing services for the business and consumer markets.

Text Styles UK specialises in printing logos, designs, photos and images on products ranging from signs and vehicle graphics, to branded work wear and promotional gifts.

Tom heard about Boost through an email marketing campaign and signed up for the Growth Mentoring programme after looking at Boost’s website.

He said: “We needed support in planning future growth. The business had increased turnover by 34 per cent during the last financial year, and with help from my growth mentor, Kathryn Gilliam, we have been able to increase capacity while keeping profit margins on track.

“Kathryn helped us to develop plans to handle increased sales, increase profitability, improve product development and maintain control of the business while undergoing expansion.”

Tom added: “As a result we have implemented planned expansion through a thorough understanding of the market, introduced a production planning strategy and safeguarded margins and profitability.”

Text Styles UK has gone on to become finalists in Lancashire’s e3 Awards and won the ‘Most outstanding Micro Business of the Year’ in the 2014 Pendle Business Awards.

Commenting on the delivery of the Growth Mentoring programme, Tom said: “We enjoyed every aspect of the Boost experience. Listening to our mentor giving us independent views on our business has been extremely refreshing.

“This advice and support has given us extra confidence to push on with our ambitious plans and we have created numerous process flow charts, plus a growth orbit that has immediately improved our order procedure.”

Growth Mentor Kathryn Gillam, Managing Director of Kingfisher Consultants (NW), said: “It has been a pleasure working with Tom and Text Styles UK. He has been extremely open and honest which has enabled me to look at all aspects of the business and offer constructive feedback, to which he was extremely receptive. We have been able to develop tools which will help Tom communicate with and develop his fast growing team.”

Ann Holcroft Operations Manager at Orvia said: “Tom at Text Styles UK needed mentoring support to increase turnover and manage the growth of the business in a controlled way. The support and guidance he received via the Boost mentoring scheme has meant Tom can focus on running the business while enjoying a better work life balance.”