The deal was completed at the end of last week, to coincide with the Hucknall, Nottingham, firm’s financial year-end.
The existing management team including Tom Carr Jnr, the son of the firm’s founder Tom Carr, production director Jim McQuade, customer care director Lisa Mullin and finance director Michelle Cram, remain or become shareholders, while non-executive chairman Nigel Maybury also becomes a minority shareholder.
The management structure will be retained, with Tom Carr Jnr moving into the new role of commercial director.
‘We are delighted to have completed the transaction, the team at The Mailshop have a great understanding of our clients’ needs and we deliver on it. Having the additional support of John and Nigel will allow us to develop the business even further,” Carr said.
The £13m-turnover business employs 80 staff and has grown during the pandemic period thanks to its customer base in the home shopping industry.
It specialises in all elements of direct mail fulfilment with capabilities including paper wrapping, high speed inkjetting, mailing and postage savings.
Ellis, who started his industry career as a compositor and has worked at Citipost for the past six-and-a-half years, said he was looking forward to adding value to Mailshop through his industry network and client relations.
“The business is doing really well and the order book is pretty full up to the end of the year,” he said.
“I am really excited to be joining the business in such a strong position and to see where we can take it.”
The Mailshop is also poised to take delivery of a new £100,000-plus Sitma system, due to be signed off this week ahead of installation later this month.
The system is made up of a Sitma base with a Norwix IM2 UV inkjet system, Carr explained.
“It is designed for high quality inkjet onto naked catalogues and postcards. Last year Mailshop inkjetted over 75m naked products with growth targeted at over 100m in 2022,” he said.
Ellis added the firm was gearing up for a busy period in the run-up to Christmas.
“We are starting to ramp up to the busiest mailing time and I think Christmas is going to be very strong. Customers are re-investing in sales promotions.”
The Mailshop’s services include data, print, postage and mailing, and it offers a range of wrapping options from polywrap to starch and plant-based wraps, recycled wrap and paper wrapping.
It holds ISO 14001 and ISO 9001 accreditations.
Picture shows: front Tom Carr (left) and John Ellis. Behind: Michelle Cram, Lisa Mullin, Nigel Maybury, and Jim McQuade. Ellis and Maybury previously worked together at Sunline Direct Mail.
