Under the leadership of Mark Farrimond, Envelope Works has become one of the UK’s top envelope printing companies.
By Ian Armitage and Produced by Leon Hill
The Envelope Works has been a leading envelope printing and manufacturing supplier since the turn of the century. And under the guidance of current Managing Director Mark Farrimond, the business has grown into one of the UK’s top envelope printing companies.
Utilising all of his experience gained within the print and reprographics industries, Farrimond has used the wisdom and guile he has accumulated to transform the company into a world class player. “We’re doing okay,” says the modest Farrimond, whose revitalised company offers customers a range of envelope solutions which seems to be growing by the day.
Farrimond, who has worked within the envelope print and reprographics sector for almost 20 years, is naturally delighted with what the company, founded in 1999 by Stewart Hogg and Mike Arkwright, has become.
A NEW DAWN
The Envelope Works is situated in Ovenden, Halifax and in July 2007 it officially became part of The Printing Partners Group (PPG), an independent envelope supplier, which operates extensively throughout Europe and the UK, making the combined business organisation the largest independent off-set envelope printers in Europe.
“This was Printing Partners Group’s first move into UK-based production and The Envelope Works was an ideal match,” says Farrimond. “We have extensive knowledge of the UK marketplace and they have vast experience in Europe, so both firms I believe complement each other perfectly.”
In fact, they complement each other so well that the benefits of the partnership are almost endless. “We have two production plants with more than 25 printing presses between us. Even more remarkably, at least seven of them are four-colour machines. This, combined with our storage, logistics and purchasing power, makes for a total envelope service solution.”
The landmark deal was completed on 9 July, 2007, and the combined group now has a turnover of around £20 million. But it doesn’t end there. The Group carries in the region of 12 million plain stock envelopes at any one time, has in excess of 10,000 pallets for complementary storage and purchases over one billion envelopes a year.
Despite the remarkable highs of 2007, 2008 has been an equally significant year for the firm, commencing with the company becoming a fully FSC and PEFC accredited envelope printer.
“We are fully aware of the environmental impact we, as a company within the print industry, have,” says Farrimond. “Gaining FSC accreditation was an essential aspect of our future strategy.”
“It’s also worth highlighting that our FSC accreditation is ?just one aspect of our environmental programme. We also work with an innovative carbon off-setting charity called ‘Grow a Forest’ and through them we have planted 50 trees in UK forests, this year alone.”
“I have to say though that none of this would have possible had it not been for all the staff at The Envelope Works. Their combined dedication, commitment and pride makes tackling these projects so much easier. I am incredibly proud of all their contributions.”
GROWING WITH DEMAND
This is clearly an extremely exciting time for The Envelope Works and over the next 12 to 18 months, Farrimond will be overseeing the construction of a new purpose-built, 20,000 square feet facility, confirming the company’s commitment to on-going growth and development.
“Our new premises will take every aspect of our service offering to a higher level, enabling us to tender for substantially larger contracts,” he says.
Farrimond sums it up well: “We are growing with demand, and there is considerable potential. The exciting thing is that sometimes we have so many plans on the horizon, we have to take a step backwards and think ‘OK, what have we got to do first?’”
Farrimond has every reason to be optimistic. “What’s amazing is that we are only 15 percent into my vision and business plan for The Envelope Works – our future is whatever we decide to make it,” he says.
The challenge, it seems, will be keeping a pace with such change and continuing to grow The Envelope Works in the future.
“We are keeping our eyes open and will closely examine the opportunities that are out there,” Farrimond says. “If the right one comes along then we will make our move, as we have done in the past.
“The last few years have been a lot of hard work,” adds Farrimond, who hasn’t had a holiday in nearly four years.
“It really is so exciting,” he continues. There is always something new just around the corner and it is our job to step up and seize it.”
Thankfully, Farrimond has finally decided the time is right for a break and will enjoy a short holiday soon enough – just in time to return revitalised and focused on the task of taking Envelope Works to the next level.
Read the full Corporate Profile of Envelope in Manufacturing Exec September 2008