Gripping yarn of how SME door maker survived and is now prospering

Like the plot of a hit Sunday evening TV drama, the back story of family-run Lancashire SME Pendle Doors is gripping – more so in fact, because it’s real.

Anyone looking for an example of the passion, grit and determination, and, above all, love needed to steer a business through one of the worst recessions in living memory and out the other side should look no further than the Darwen-based company run by husband-and-wife Steve and Sue Anderson.

Managing director Steve and financial director Sue acquired the business which specialises in timber fire doors, bespoke joinery and timber security doors 24 years ago.

They have built it from a firm which was turning over less than £130,000 a year to a company with revenue in excess of £2.6m.

But that road to success – particularly during the economic crisis which hit in 2008 – has not been an easy one.

“We started with four people, Steve and three others,” said Sue, who worked in the banking sector before joining her husband in the business. “Within six months we moved to a bigger unit in Burnley and about three years later yet again to a 7,500sq ft.

“Ten years ago we moved here to this place 26,000sq ft. We now have 32 staff.

“Our customers are mainly building contractors, or joinery sub contractors. We do more work in the summer because schools shut down and projects are undertaken.”

She said that the company had carried out work for NHS Tusts, although in a telling illustration of financial strains on national health service currently, there has not been much work in hospitals recently. Other schemes the companies supplies are for student accommodation, care homes.

Sue is under no illusions over how competitive the sector Pendle Door is part of is.

“It’s dog eat dog out there,” she told TheBusinessDesk. “Totally and utterly price driven.

“Over the years we haven’t done much marketing, because we have found the most effective route to building a solid customer base is word of mouth.

“If there is an issue we are very quick to deal with it. If a customer rings up and says jump, we say ‘how high’ and do everything in our power to resolve it.”

That approach has enabled the company to seal a deal with Oldham-based independent construction and property services company Willmott Dixon for the supply of doors and door sets, particularly round the North West, which could add up to £500,000 a year to its turnover.

“It could take us to the next level,” said Sue.

Another milestone arrived last year, when the company was able to buy the premises it occupies in the shadow of Blackburn Rovers’ Ewood Park ground.

“It was secured with the help of £120,000 from the Regional Growth Fund,” said Sue. “That was huge, otherwise we couldn’t have raised the deposit.

“Twelve months ago, we spent £250,000 on a veneer line – makes a 50% cost saving on our doors  – what we need to do now is feed it.”

The only negative for Pendle Doors is the widespread shortage of skilled bench hand joiners coming through ranks.

“Joinery and carpentry are not cool subjects to learn in college, so there no young people in the job market with those skill,” said Sue. “If there are any out there, we could certainly use one or two more.”

As an entrepreneur in residence at Lancaster University who is conducting a course in association with BAE, Sue’s passion and care for the business shines through.

“Running this business is like having another child, such a precious thing,” she said.

“During the recession we stripped right back and had to put the staff on short time, something which we hated having to. But we did everything we could just to survive.

“Our landlord at the time was fantastic. He was an entrepreneur who took a view. He was wonderful.

“We went through the accounts line by line. At the end of 2008 we were absolutely flying, then in January 2009, it like someone had switched the light off.  For two years it was really tough.”

Those choppy waters are behind Pendle Doors now, and Sue is convinced the effects of the Brexit vote will not necessarily negatively impact on the business.

Meanwhile, Sue paid tribute to one of the original partners of the business who was part of it when the Andersons took over 24 years ago – Ian Oldfield, aged 53, a time served carpenter and joiner.

She also hailed the contribution of general manager is Ian Hartley.

“They are integral to the business moving forward,” she added.