Monday Interview: Duo behind office supply business which has achieved double digit growth
Leeds-based Office Monster has today reported its strongest results to date, achieving a turnover of £1.58m and a gross profit of £430k, showing an increase from £1m and double digit growth from £272k respectively when compared to audited figures from 2016.
Following its launch in 2013, the business has consistently invested in its infrastructure, with a significant £40k spend in the last year alone.
Directors Steve Hanley and Ryan Ward met years ago as DJs and spent several seasons in Spain entertaining the crowds with their house music sets. Ward said: “We have had to grow up a little bit and we are completely self-taught in the office supply and distribution sector.”
Ward was involved in the business from the outset and Hanley joined earlier this year as a 50-50 partner in the business, after being one of Hanley’s customers in a previous job. Ward said: “We knew we would make a good business partnership.”
The firm recently moved into a new office, which has doubled the square footage of its previous premises in Rothwell. This means they can meet with their expansion plans, which includes an increase in turnover to £3m and the planned appointment of five additional members to the team in the next year
Ward added: “Being in a position to report our best performance to date, while we also move to our new offices and extend our team, is a real achievement. Like many businesses, it’s rare we take the time to look back and to celebrate just how far we have come.
“We have strong plans in place for the year ahead and know that our focus on service is what sets us apart from others in the market as we work with an increasing number of customers. It’s about providing a web based platform that people can order from at the touch of a button, with the help and support of a real person when needed.”
Hanley said the firm’s customer bases was made of SMEs and that it was important to deliver a good working relationship with customers, which is why they often secured repeat business.
Office Monster is a web-based e-commerce platform with more than 20,000 products available to customers nationwide. With everything from paper and pens to shredding and water coolers, along with a full selection of office furniture, the company has a full range of products to meet with the growing needs of home offices, schools and larger businesses across a range of sectors.
In the future, the firm may looks to offer further products and services including water coolers. Ward added: “What we deliver for customers is insight driven and we like to think we offer something similar to a personal shopper service.”
