Yorkshire firm saved from collapse launches new operation
A GRANITE and marble supplier bought out of administration last year has expanded its services.
Wheldrake-based JW Smith (Masonry) was acquired by stock market investment club Collingham Ventures led by former Q-Park chief executive Alan Ashbee in May.
Since then the firm, which specialises in kitchen and bathrooms, has invested in new plant and machinery to design, manufacture and install a range of stone memorials suitable for churchyards and cemeteries.
The new business, which is trading as Granite Memorials, utilises the skills of the firm’s master stonemasons to carefully craft the highest quality memorials.
As well as traditional headstones, Granite Memorials is offering pet memorials and has already attracted orders since launching this month.
The company is also expanding into house and name plaques.
Mr Ashbee said that new services took advantage of the firm’s highly skilled workforce.
“We’ve been looking at markets we can expand into that uses our skills,” he said.
“We’re currently putting a team together to do strategic search engine optimisation.”
Mr Ashbee said that although trade sales through the main business were currently slow reflecting the current economic mood but direct ‘word of mouth’ sales were still strong.
“It means continuing to please our customers by getting it right and offering a good service,” he added.
