E-commerce education resources specialist undergoes rebrand, recruits 30 new staff

A portfolio company of Leeds based private equity investor, Endless, has undergone a major rebrand to enable the expansion of its current service offer and provide the platform for sustainable growth.

Findel, which is a national and international ecommerce educational resources supplier, owns specialist education brands Hope, GLS, Philip Harris and Davies Sports. The parent brand, Findel, and all its specialist brands have been rebranded.

Findel’s origins as an educational resources supplier can be traced back to 1817. Today, its brands and websites offer more than 32,000 products to educators and parents based in the UK and overseas with the business exporting to 130 countries.

Findel was acquired in April last year from Studio Retail Group PLC following a management buy-out (MBO) supported by Endless. Andrew Ross, Endless partner, commented: “Since the MBO, we have been supporting Findel’s excellent senior management team to shape the business as they want and begin to realise its full potential.

“Findel now has a new strategy, vision and direction that will drive the company towards becoming a highly successful, multi-faceted, national and international education resources business and a trusted and valued partner to its customers.”

The rebranding programme brings together a clear and distinct modern set of customer-facing educational resources brands sitting under one corporate brand of Findel. All the brands are unified in their commitment to “setting and achieving market-leading sustainable practises and standards”.

Findel chief executive, Chris Mahady, added: “The rebranding process involved distilling our brands’ distinct qualities and points of difference so we can communicate them clearly with direction, both internally and externally. This, in turn, will underpin our sustainable national and international growth plans.

“Most importantly, it means we have made buying easier for schools through great websites, increased convenience and enhanced procurement tools, all of which are underpinned by fantastic service.”

Since the MBO, and in addition to the rebrand project, Findel has implemented a multi-million pound investment programme.

Initiatives include recruiting 30 more people to cope with increased demand in key areas such as technology and digital marketing, transforming the office accommodation, and developing new digital and ecommerce technologies alongside a new inventory management system.