The Paperbox began life eight years ago in Ray Calland-Scoble’s garage while he was still working as a number one machine minder at the then Garnett Dickinson web printing operation.

The business, which is run by Calland-Scoble and his wife Jenny, subsequently expanded into a unit on the same industrial estate and Calland-Scoble quit his day job in 2012 to focus on it full-time.

The firm is now located in a purpose-built 500sqm facility on an industrial estate in Easingwold in the Vale of York.

The Paperbox supplies a range of card blanks and envelopes, alongside other products typically required by card makers. Using Calland-Scoble’s industry know-how it has carved out a niche by sourcing unusual, bespoke, and on-trend materials that are not available elsewhere.

“I’ve been able to use my experience and contacts in the industry to source unique high-quality products, to be different from everyone else,” Calland-Scoble explained.

The firm employs six staff and has sales of around £750,000. 

It was audited last month by Fen Consult and has now been added to the FSC register for acid-free, non-toxic, carbon balanced and biodegradable products. Most of its products are sourced from UK manufacturers. 

Calland-Scoble said that ethical trading and social responsibility was “at the forefront of every business decision we make”.

“FSC registration sits nicely with our brand and helps us raise a bit more awareness,” he added. “Our processes are very slick, and it was quite straightforward for us to implement the FSC requirements.

“We also monitor our suppliers’ certificates, and our software warns us if their certification is going to expire six months beforehand.”

As well as micro businesses and crafters, The Paperbox supplies commercial and digital printers, councils and schools, and social enterprise groups. It exports to eight countries across Europe.

“The order quantities vary from a few pounds, to thousands,” he added.