Group of companies run by growth guru on track for £1.7m revenue
GROWTH adviser turned business group owner Paul Norris is on course to get the combined revenue of his three Bolton companies above £1.7m.
Norris has taken ownership of the trio of firms in a group now branded Sobecamo – a name derived from the first two letters of he and his wife and business associate Cathryn’s four children.
The 53-year-old took ownership of furniture frame maker Formston Evans in 2015 and in the first year grew its turnover from £465,000 by 15% to £537,000.
Its July 31 year-end figures show the revenue has soared yet again – up 19% to £637,000.
Alongside that company Sobecamo has also acquired joinery business J Phillips & Sons and moved it from its base in the Bolton satellite town of Westhoughton into the Formston Evans headquarters.
Norris has already identified the supply of a bespoke bench joinery service to the architect, design and build sector as an area of potential growth and is actively looking to recruit two skilled workers to supply demand.
Turnover of this business is on course to hit £600,000 this year.
Meanwhile, contracts for high-spec fit out specialist Loco Jones, which Norris also acquired in 2015 continues aplenty.
The company has secured a lucrative deal for the fit-out of new Manchester nightclub Bonbon.
Revenue for Loco Jones is set to hit £500,000 this year.
Norris, who also runs Manchester growth consultancy Gerron, told TheBusinessDesk: “We are on target with all our businesses.
“When I originally bought Formston Evans, the whole rationale was that I could see the growth potential. It was one of the few companies which had not written a business plan.
“We had a very clear set of objectives. It was the growth of the existing customer, but we ourselves a target of new customer acquisitions which we more than achieved.
“Another is to get turnover to £2m by 2020 within the existing structure.
“I’ve got got lots of plans. Last year we said we would start offering a polishing service and now it is operational, that has opened up a new market.”
Norris said there was “a very clear synergy between Formston Evans and the other two businesses in the group”.
He went on: “With J Phillips I have refocused the business on to the manufacturing side of joinery, servicing large architect design building companies.
“There is huge demand for bench joiners who can offer a bespoke highly skilled service.”
Although Loco Jones was a pre-existing business run by Bury-based Gary Macpherson.
As well as Bonbon, other work carried out includes the exclusive LIV nightclub on Peter Street, Manchester, and other city centre outlets like the Elixir bar on Deansgate, and a string of contracts for Barber Barber, which has a shop in Barton Arcade and others in Liverpool, Leeds and London.
Work has also been carried out at French restaurant 63 Degrees, patisserie Bisous-Bisous in Didsbury, Manchester, and advertising agencies Loaf Creative and BJL.
