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DEALER PROFILE
32
Small, working alongside his wife
Michelle, had built a solid print
dealership and back in 2005, they
sold it to the Arena Group. “We made
the decision to sell and take some
time out to get a bit of perspective,”
he explained.
Three years later, at the height of the
recession, they set up DMS Leasing Ltd, a
business that provided leasing facilities for
clients. “2008 was a tough year, the job
market was not buoyant and as a family
we agreed the time was right to get back
into business,” Small said. This time around
the husband and wife team were joined by
their two children – Stephen, who heads
up IT, and Sarah, who works with Financial
Director Michelle, overseeing admin and
accounts.
In 2011, the reprographics division
was established. DMS Reprographics is
an authorised Develop reseller, which
accounts for the majority of installations,
as well as a Sharp and Ricoh dealer.
Room to grow
DMS Reprographics has grown from a
standing start to a turnover of £3 million,
and Small says the plan is to double that in
the next five years.
This summer, the firm is relocating into
a brand new 21,000 sq. ft. purpose-built
HQ in Egerton, Bolton. “We have invested
£1.2 million and bought these brand new
premises which will provide us with office
space and warehousing all on one site,”
Small said. At present the company’s stock
holding and logistics is off-site.
The office move forms a key part of the
company’s growth strategy and will provide
it with room to further expand and grow
the business. DMS Reprographics currently
has a staff of twenty four which includes
nine engineers and will shortly launch a
new engineering apprentice scheme.
“We are working with DSales (the UK
distributor of Develop MFPs) and our local
college to get this new training programme
of the ground,” Small explained. “It’s an
exciting project and one we are very much
looking forward to launching. We are very
pro giving back to the community, there
are lots of good young people in our area
who just need a chance, and we’re looking
to grow our team by recruiting young
people on our apprentice programme,
giving them the opportunity to gain work
experience, learn on the job and acquire a
skillset that will equip them for the future.”
Niche market
DMS Reprographics has built a niche in
the education sector. “The majority of the
business we win is within the education
sector,” Small said. “For us, the schools’
market is particularly strong. We have
grown our presence here quite rapidly, and
won many new clients. We work closely
with the North West Local Authorities and
an ever-increasing number of local schools.”
He added: “We do a lot of networking,
and meet school business managers at
After taking a couple of years break from the print industry, Steve Small,
Managing Director of Bolton-based DMS Reprographics, came back into the
business in 2008 and hasn’t looked back since
Keeping it in the family
regional events. We are often asked to give
talks and offer advice on best practice on
the contract side and compliant leasing.
We also provide support if schools need
to get out of contracts that are not fit for
purpose or unfair for example.”
The company is also working closely
with education clients, helping them to be
compliant with GDPR.
“Our go-to-market strategy is very much
relationship-based, customer service is
very important, for example we don’t have
voicemail - our clients’ calls are always
answered by a person, and we believe that
is a real value-add,” Small said.
National deals
The company has grown its presence
within the corporate market significantly
within the last twelve to fifteen months.
“We’ve been successful and it’s here that
we are targeting future growth,” Small
said.
DMS Reprographics recently won a
nationwide MPS deal with Persimmon
Homes. “Our relationship with DSales
allows us to tap into a national service
framework, meaning we can pitch for
contracts nationwide and remain confident
that the service delivery will be excellent,”
Small stated.
“We will be further developing and
building up our presence within this sector,
which we see as key to supporting our
growth plans,” he added.
Acquisitions are also firmly on the
agenda. “In 2019, we will be actively
looking to acquire like-minded businesses,
we see acquisition as a strong way to
complement organic growth,” Small said in
conclusion.
We’re
looking to
grow our
team by
recruiting
young people
on our
apprentice
programme
l to r:
Stephen, Steve,
Michelle and Sarah
