Pack-IT
Pack-IT Product Promotions Limited was established in 1988 as a small enterprise carrying out light industrial packing services. It is now a thriving three-pronged business supplying mailing, storage & distribution and on-line fulfilment, with an enviable reputation as a fast turn-around specialist. It also provides specialized finishing services such as subscription fulfillment and cross matching of short-run hand mailings, full web-based real time stock control facilities and customer services capabilities.
Pack-IT was originally set up by Cardiff City Council to provide training opportunities and permanent paid employment for people with learning disabilities. However, the organisation is now the only example in the country of a Social Firm that has been successfully externalised from its local authority. As a Social Firm and community business, Pack-IT employs 21 staff, half of whom have Down's Syndrome, are profoundly deaf or have behavioural and learning difficulties. Yet everyone at Pack-IT is paid above market rates and works full-time.
This committed, long-serving workforce has played a vital part in the business's success story. Since John Bennet joined as Manager in 1994 turnover has increased from £70,000 to £1.2m in 2003. Accrued profits stand at £121,000 and these are ploughed back into the business and invested in people and machinery.
In 2005 Pack-IT won The European Social Firm of the Year Award. In 2003 it also won the UK Social Enterprise Award for "Enterprising Solutions", a DTI-sponsored award celebrating the success, innovation, and unique nature of businesses that display both entrepreneurial flair and a commitment to social change.
Says John: "I am proud of the unique tag that Pack-IT carries and equally proud of the staff that are fully involved in the day-to-day business that Pack-IT is. However, I want all businesses and organisations with whom we work to recognise that whilst we are firmly committed to the principles of Social Firms and social enterprise, that commitment shouldn't detract from the fact that we are a commercial business in our own right. Sixteen years on, evidence is that we are in it for the long haul. Pack-IT wants to be judged by the success of the business that it carries out, not by the people it employs."
Customer comments:
"I am the owner of a small Australian company attempting to export our product into the UK market. A number of major hurdles concerning importing logistics, storage and distribution were solved by John Bennett's advice when I met him at a UK trade fair. Indeed to this end Pack-IT Group were of considerably more help than the Australian body set up for this purpose. Pack-IT Group and in particular John's personal and professional service comes highly recommended. Their delivery service is prompt and back-up and support second to none. A service which a small company seldom gets." Kevin Russell, Hero And Leander
"The synergy between our two companies has meant that we consider the services available from Pack-IT as an extension of the facilities we are able to offer our clients. Our confidence in Pack-IT's capability and sympathetic development between us of bespoke IT systems has enabled us to provide a complete mailing solution to our on-going service for Peregor Travel." Jack Newman, Managing Director, EPC Direct.
"We've always wanted a storage and fulfilment house that was not just a supplier but more of an 'extension' of our company, demonstrating an empathy with our business goals and passion for customer service - Pack-IT fits the bill admirably. Their ability to deal with our last minute requirements and staff's commitment to 'go the extra mile' have been crucial to our current success. I would be very happy to recommend Pack-IT as a provider of Internet 'back-end' services and look forward to our two companies' continued mutual growth and success." Alison Bateman, Director, A Touch of Ginger.
"I have been contracting the services of Pack-IT for more than a decade. We have used them for many purposes, from database management to complex postal and fulfilment and mailshots. They have always been very competitive on cost, flexible in their practices and the staff are very helpful at all times. I will certainly be using them again and would not hesitate in recommending them to any other companies, large and small." Nick Evans, Reader Development Manager, South Wales Echo
"We thank Pack-IT for providing a complete fulfilment solution for Australis Distribution and help in breaking into the UK market. We have been particularly impressed by their seamless operation from product check-in through to storage, inventory management and despatch. Their customer service was excellent with almost instant turnaround on our queries and innovative solutions to our problems. We feel Pack-IT has been an instrumental factor in making Australis Distribution a success, and I would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone seeking a fulfilment solution ." Simon Golding, Director, Australis.
For more information visit: www.pack-it.com
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