John E Wright is buying Hussey Knights, a £2m turnover digital print, business supplies and office interiors company based in Norwich with a satellite branch in Brentwood, Essex.
All existing management and staff are remaining with the business except for one of the owners, Kevin Rhead, who is retiring after 46 years in the industry.
John E Wright is a £6m turnover display graphic and digital print business with five operations from Hull in the north to Oxford in the south and mainly serving the corporate marketing, graphic design and small business communities. MD Tony Barnett, said: “Hussey Knights have excellent management, sales and production staff and, with the significant investment already set aside for the print operations in both Norwich and Brentwood, will help us to grow into the East Anglia, Essex and London markets.”
The new enlarged business will now be run in two large divisions – the signage, exhibition and print division, where significant recent investment in digital flatbed and cutting technology has fuelled strong growth in both flexible and rigid signage and display graphics, and a business supplies and interiors division headed by Hussey Knights director Keith Shepherdson.
Shepherdson said of the move: “I am really pleased to have been asked to join Tony on the group management executive with primary responsibility to drive forward the business supplies and interiors division. Together with my new enlarged team, we look forward to providing solutions to all manner of large-format print requirements, with engineers and sales staff covering the East of England from Newcastle in the north to London in the south. Our primary focus is the AEC [architects, engineers and construction] market where we have over 25 years of experience specialising in large-format print solutions at highly competitive rates.
Outgoing Rhead added: “although looking forward to my retirement, I have known Tony for over 25 years and know he will invest in the staff, equipment and new technology to grow the operation in the future. I feel I am leaving my staff and customers in safe hands. John E Wright’s network of branches leaves growth opportunities for the existing business and staff alike. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our customers for their support over the past 46 years.”
