Member Article

Electrical distribution firm enjoys 30% turnover leap

A County Durham electrical distribution firm has enjoyed a record-breaking 30% jump in turnover.

Upex Electrical Distributors (UED), based in Newton Aycliffe, saw a hike in turnover during 2013, the firm’s best-ever performance in its 26-year history, while the firm’s growth has trebled in the last seven years.

UED, part of the Upex Group of eight companies owned by entrepreneur John Upex, caters for the man on the street up to large industrial firms, and has been working on large-scale projects for the likes of 3M and Gestamp Tallent recently.

The firm has recently become a member of independent wholesalers AWEBB – a “progressive, ambitious and forward-thinking purchasing consortium” – which gives the Aycliffe outfit bigger buying power and enables them to compete with its online competitors.

Managing director Gary Monk, who re-joined the company in 2007 after buying a 25% stake, said: “We’re in a very competitive market, especially with companies who do what we do online only, but our biggest strength is our locality and service.

“There are lots of wholesalers like us that are purely internet based, but we’re competitive with all of them and we cater for the whole spectrum, from the cash sale customer who comes in for a plug to heavy industry.”

UED has five full-time staff, including Steve Whitham, Barry Harland and David Land in the sales team and van driver Jeff Hunter and part-time sales rep Tom College.

The company was set up in 1984 and has grown rapidly to become the only major electrical retailer and wholesaler in the Newton Aycliffe area.

UED carries an extensive range of stock in-house, which is supported by direct access to local and national supplies, boasting a same-day or 24-hour delivery.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Martin Walker .