Growth in online sales sees packaging firm celebrate 30 years with confidence
Wiltshire based packaging firm GWP Group is celebrating 30 years in business with renewed optimism, after an upturn in sales following the easing of lockdown restrictions.
The business originally began trading out of Cheney Manor, Swindon, as the Great Western Packaging Co in August 1990. Starting with just over 5,000 sq. ft. of manufacturing space, and a handful of employees, the business moved to Cricklade in 2003, and now operates from two sites covering over 100,000 sq. ft. and employs more than 100 people.
Having traded through a number of recessions over the past three decades, the Coronavirus pandemic was the latest to test the mettle of the company.
Ruth Cook, Managing Director of GWP Group, said; “We have remained operational throughout the pandemic, supporting a number of critical businesses that supply directly into the NHS as well as those that are part of supply chains for food, medical and pharmaceutical industries.
“Whilst this meant that we saw a real contrast in the fortunes of companies we work with – with some temporarily ceasing to trade and others struggling to cope with increased demand - what we are now seeing is a marked increase in demand for packaging across almost our entire customer base.”
Looking beyond the pandemic and having invested extensively in manufacturing equipment and increased storage space over the last three years (to allow for a just in time" delivery service), the business sees a number of opportunities over the coming years.
Ruth added: “We have also become involved in a number of new areas during this period – such as helping to manufacture visors for health workers and safety screens for protecting staff – and the growth in e-commerce packaging has been particularly significant.
“The lockdown appears to have further accelerated the move towards online sales we have observed over previous years, which is now more pronounced in terms of both existing customers adapting and new enquiries coming into the business.”
“Although we couldn’t have expected to be celebrating reaching 30 years in the current circumstances, as a business we are extremely grateful to our staff, customers, suppliers and everyone involved with the business. They have not only helped us through this difficult period, but have set us up for many more years of growth and successful trading too.”