Joint venture delivers results

TOGETHER we can make it work: Steve (left) and Martin

TWO pals who met in a pub in Delph are sharing more than a pint of ale after going into business together.

Steve Bradley, who was sales director at Union Street business Kwikprint for many years, and Martin Capper, who has been running Helping Hands for the past 20 years, set up The Business Supply Company.

Based at the Acorn Centre, Derker, The Business Supply Co aims to do exactly what it says on the business cards — it’s a one-stop shop for everything a firm requires outside of its core requirements.

Martin has been supplying cleaning materials to nursing homes, care homes and health centres in and around Oldham for more than 20 years.

Steve has a wealth of knowledge of the office supplies industry having worked with his father Bill at Kwikprint, one of the Oldham business scene’s iconic names.

Both residents of Delph, the pair were chatting over a pint in The White Lion when it became obvious there were synergies to their respective businesses.

“Martin wanted to sell his products to my customers and I wanted to expand my customer base so we did the obvious thing and got together,” said Steve.

For several years now their joint venture has delivered results and The Business Supply Company is currently enjoying the benefits of an internet-based ordering system.

“Our customers have access to a web-based ordering system which ensures they receive their goods the next day.

“We prioritise each customer’s top-50 products to make their ordering easier but they also have access to more than 4,000 other products through our catalogue — and we can source one-off items,” he added.

The customer base at the moment is within a 10-mile radius of Oldham and both Martin and Steve are comfortable with in terms of delivery and satisfaction but both recognise they need to grow their geographical reach in the long-term.

“We already supply people in the other parts of the country by delivering to branch offices of Oldham-based clients so we have the expertise to grow the business,” Steve concluded as he set about downloading his overnight orders in readiness for another busy day at the office.