The print management company was founded by Nick Shelton and Brian Jones in 1998 to fulfil a desire to establish a print brokerage service. Managing director Shelton had worked in print manufacturing since 1986 and returned from a year off in 1998 to start his own company with Jones, whose history in paper sales gave him a number of connections to help build a business.
Wellingborough, Northamptonshire-based PDS now employs 40 members of staff and is heading for a £10m turnover at the end of the financial year.
Shelton said: “We knew this was a good opportunity for us because we set out with a good base to start a business from day one – we were not going in blind.
“I think from the start we had a blueprint of what we wanted to be, we wanted to give printers volume so they would want to keep dealing with us and we wanted to keep a promise to make sure people were paid and jobs fulfilled on time. Once we saw this was working we knew we were onto something.
“PDS is nothing without the printers that back us – we need each other and the fact we have their trust is a big advantage. I think the key has been to find what we are good at and stick to our principles, rather than being tempted to go slightly off-track for a quick buck.”
The company operates from 1,860sqm premises and is currently developing a new design studio as a home for its four designers, two artworkers, studio manager and assistant. The studio is set to be running by the new year and Shelton described it as “almost a mini agency on its own”.
Further investment will go into PDS’ Vue TV service which manufactures products for video-in-print applications. It is the only manufacturing PDS will run onsite as a niche offering that Shelton hopes to grow in the future by investing in machinery.
With sights on the future, Shelton also said he hopes the business will outgrow its current premises in two or three years and move to a new, larger site. To commemorate its anniversary, the company has chosen a different charity to support for each month of its 20th year.
