A Redditch small business has expanded into new premises and is taking on extra staff.
Kingfisher Office Solutions specialises in reducing companies’ overall costs for their in-house printing andn photocopying. They have recently moved from a site on the Evesham Road to The Oaks Business Centre on Clews Road.
Proprietor Andrew Frascina paid £100,000 for the modern two-storey building – commercial property agents John Truslove advised the vendor.
There is a five-strong workforce plus two sub-contracted engineers, and two other staff are in the process of being taken on.
But Mr Frascina says life remains tough for an archetypal SME.
“Yes, it is hard work,” he said. “But you get out what you put in.
“Naturally, in our line, we do a lot of cold calling and, by the nature of it, we get a lot of knock-backs. Everybody is trying to save costs. You just have to remain positive.”
He is helped by how, unlike some technologies, such as the fax/multifunctional printers largely overtaken by email, photo copiers are still an essential part office of office life.
“Today they can scan, scan to email … they can manage documents much more efficiently,” said Mr Frascina.
And, he says, they are 70 per cent cheaper to run than desk top printers.
He sources the office solutions directly from one of the largest manufacturers with a direct dealership from Ricoh.
Mr Frascina has been in the sector for 16 years, having previously sold out to a large corporate. He stayed with them for three years but wasn’t enjoying it.
“So I decided to reform the original Kingfisher as it previously was.”
The new entity has now been in operation for 18 months and mainly sells to other SMEs.
Mr Truslove said: “Life for the SME is indeed difficult in these troubled economic times, so Kingfisher’s success is highly commendable.
“Andrew is an experienced operator in this sector and his drive and hard work are clearly paying off. I wish him every success.”
No: 1 The Oaks Business Centre extends to 1,291 sq ft and Mr Frascina plans to include a showroom displaying his products.
The complex is well located about two miles out of Redditch city centre off the A441 Alcester Highway.
