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Around 15 years ago, a young James Wheeler joined his father and sister at their bookbinding and finishing company Kensett. 12 years later he has taken over as managing director and now, with his sister, is moving the business into the 21st century.

Kensett is actually 128 years old, although Wheeler’s knowledge of the business only dates from the point at which his grandfather took over around 50 years ago. Since then, it has remained in family hands for three generations, through his father to them.

K&L Laminators, runs alongside Kensett as a sister company, a partnership that was formed in 1990. Despite being just a couple of hundred yards apart, Wheeler says the two businesses operate as distinct operations, but are able to sell their services as a joint offering. This is in no small part down to the close relationship Wheeler has with the managing director of K&L, Darren Miles – who also happens to be his brother-in-law.

Wheeler says: "We can offer the printer the whole package, regardless of who they deal with. It may be sent to Kensett, but they will get the entire product back, even if it required sending to K&L and they do the same for us. It is quite a unique package we can offer the printing trade.

"It makes it more cost-effective for customers because there is only one delivery point for them. They don’t have to send it to A then B then C and then back to B again. They drop it off with us and then they get it back."

Bigger means better
Combined, the two businesses offer a large number of finishing options, from basic fold/stitch/trim to PUR binding, wire-binding, spiral-binding, peelable glue and inkjetting, lamination, spot UV and die-cutting. Although Kensett still has the larger turnover, K&L has also invested and expanded over the last five years and is now closing the gap.

Some might ask why, if the two businesses work so well together, they need to be on separate sites? Wheeler responds  that it is down to not being able to find the right building in Brighton and Hove that is big enough for both companies.

"We would love to be on one site," he says. "But finding premises big enough to fit both of us in is very hard. We don’t have the space to take them on here and vice versa."

Many owners of family-run printers complain that, even though they have taken over, the parent preceding them will not let go of the reins. But for Wheeler, this has not been the case. "Dad feels with the three of us at the helm, both businesses are in capable hands, between the three of us we have over 60 years’ experience," he says. "However, sometimes it is good to go to him for advice and to sound out ideas."

"But our job is to take the business forward. Some of the older generation can be a bit stuck in their ways, but we have to evolve. This company, this industry, is totally different to what was there when I came in."

Kensett has driven change by investing heavily in the last couple of years, including the purchase of an MBO K800.2 folder from Friedheim at Ipex last year, which topped off a spend that involved more than £1m worth of finishing kit in 2009. Wheeler adds that the company intends to modernise the remainder of its equipment over time, however for now "the cheque book is being locked away".

"We have made a big investment in the last two years; it’s time to settle down. We aren’t stupid; companies that grow too much and over commit tend not to be around for further generations. But new equipment is far more advanced; you have to try and stay on top of developments," he says.

Nobody knows what the future holds for print, making predictions even just a few months into the future is impossible. But with Kensett and K&L’s forward looking trio guiding the way, it seems almost certain that there will be something exciting for the next generation of Wheelers and Miles to join whenever the time comes.

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KENSETT AND K&L
Managing director, Kensett James Wheeler
Managing director, K&L Darren Miles
Finance director Emma Miles
Location Hove
Turnover
Kensett: £1.75m
K&L: £1m
Services include fold-stitch-trim, PUR binding, wire binding, spiral-binding, peelable glue and inkjetting, lamination, spot UV, die-cutting