Last year, packaging printer Glossop Cartons made its first acquisition, taking on failed Clowes Printers (Manchester) from administration. It marked a huge advance for the business, which has clearly yet to fully sink in. When you walk around the company’s Glossop facility, there are pockets dedicated to Clowes boxes, still unpacked since the move.

One of the reasons that the two businesses have yet to become fully integrated is because things have been so busy for the company over the past few months. Work hasn’t stopped, so it isn’t as though the business has had a couple of days to move in.

For Glossop managing director Jacky Sidebottom, packing away a few boxes worth of Clowes’ things is the least of her worries. The business is likely to double in size as a result of the acquisition and its service offering has increased by almost as much, so it’s more important to be fulfilling contracts at the moment.

Glossop Cartons was founded by Sidebottom’s father, who saw a niche in the market while working for a large carton company in the 1970s. He noticed that there were no smaller carton manufacturers, so in 1982 he took a £35,000 government enterprise grant, secured against his family home, and Glossop Cartons was born.

The company then picked up an array of "ancient and knackered" machines to get the business up and running. It was initially a true family business, with the then 20-year old Sidebottom one of three employees brought on board, the other two being her mother and sister.

End of an era
Sadly, Jacky’s father passed away in 1984 and the rest of the family was left with a decision to make, simply carry on or pack it in. "The decision was made for us," she says. "If the company closed, mum would have lost her house, so we had nothing to lose in going for it.

"The early days were incredibly tough. We would be working through the day, probably until 10.30 at night. The factory was opposite the local pub, so it was out at 10.30 for a chippy tea and last orders. Luckily we had bundles of energy back then, you lose that when you get older."

Sidebottom admits that when she and husband Brian took over, they suffered from a lack of experience. For example, when the company moved to a new site in late 1985, everyone noticed that the new building was a bit cold – it turned out that nobody had thought to look into a heating provider, they had been too busy thinking about machinery.

But business acumen was built up at the business over time and Glossop quickly found itself in a cycle of growth. "We would invest in machinery when we could," says Sidebottom. "As soon as we could change something, we would. Now all of our machines are pretty new – we have invested £5m in recent years."

When it comes to spending the company’s money, machinery is the one area Sidebottom allows herself, and her company, to splash out a bit in. Sidebottom doesn’t believe in driving an expensive, ‘look-at-me’ car, nor does she insist on having a huge office of her own with an expensive desk, in fact many would say she is quite the minimalist. But when it comes to presses and finishing equipment, she becomes a completely different person.

"If I see my next new machine, I have got to get it," she says. "I believe in being tight with money – there is no point in spending money for the sake of it. But I believe you should always be up to date when it comes to your machines."

Last year’s acquisition may not be the last Glossop makes, but it certainly isn’t about to go on a spree; Sidebottom believes that, with a turnover of £5m, the company is a good size and she isn’t about to go breaking the bank to build a empire. That may change, however; perhaps when those boxes are packed away it may be time to have another look.

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GLOSSOP CARTONS
Managing director
Jacky Sidebottom
Location Glossop
Turnover £5m
Staff 55