MEMBERNEWS MEMBER FOCUS: VEROTAPES
Chesterfield-based sole trader and Verotapes owner Ian McQueen (pictured) tells Business Network about the changes to his customer base since entering the protection film industry 39 years ago – and talks about how Chamber membership helps him stay connected to the wider business community.
Tell us what your company does and a brief overview of its history? Verotapes manufactures temporary surface protection films and acts as the sole agent for the UK and Ireland for Pregis SRL, which is based just north of Milan, Italy. Pregis produces a wide range of
temporary surface protection films. These films can be used by a variety of industries in the manufacturing process, during distribution and transportation, and it ensures the products arrive with their customers in pristine condition. I established Verotapes in 2009
when the company I had been working for closed, and the Italian manufacturer which had been supplying that company suggested I started working with it as an agent.
Who are your main customers and what is your USP to them? From the early days of supplying the likes of British Steel, Hotpoint, and RTZ with wide rolls, the market has now changed. Our customers today are in
construction and housebuilding, steel stockholders and some big- name automotive manufacturers. We supply unplasticised
polyvinyl chloride (uPVC) extruders to glass companies and housebuilders – all of whom want bespoke sizes, which is not something everyone can offer. Although it sounds easy, the
products we offer are very technical and high in specification, so you need a company that has the expertise, knowledge and ability to react to the changing market requirements.
App reaches million- journey milestone
Bus company trentbarton’s mango app has surpassed a major milestone – with more than one million bus journeys made using its smartphone tickets since launching last summer. The mango app has been
downloaded by more than 42,000 trentbarton customers and used to pay for more than £2m of bus fares since its launch – which means a third of fare-paying journeys are now made using the app. Commercial director Tom Morgan
said: “When we launched the mango app over last August’s bank holiday weekend and we had high hopes that customers would quickly embrace it. “To have now sped past the one
million journey milestone during the pandemic is a huge achievement and shows that customers were comfortable with switching to their smartphones for bus ticketing.” The scan-on, scan-off app has a
daily, weekly and 28-day cap function on charges and shows the customer’s balance, journey history and enables them to top up instantly. Tom added: “The exciting thing is that mango has so much more
16 business networkMay 2021
potential for us to enhance what it can do for customers. Together with our customers we have pioneered a genuine world first way of paying for public transport.”
What is your position in the business and what does your day-to-day role involve? I have worked in the protection film industry since 1982. In my heyday, I was travelling around 40,000 miles a year visiting all types of industry as the growth and demand for protection films grew. Nowadays, my usual day consists
of talking to current customers, making sure orders are processed and arrive on time, and since Brexit, that they have the correct paperwork. I also promote Pregis and talk to
potential customers. As we offer a very wide portfolio of products, it’s necessary to drill down and get the detail, asking lots of questions.
How have you fared during the Covid-19 pandemic? The past 12 months have been very interesting as many of our UK
NEW MEMBERS In March, the Chamber welcomed 47 new members:
• AA Priceless Protein • Almerimar Business Solutions Limited T/A The Olive Branch
• ASEC Export Supplies Limited (International)
• Asking Better Questions Ltd • Bridge & Stitch Ltd • BSI Group • Capella Professional • Casa Mila • Cavendish Filters Ltd • Cawarden Co Ltd • CBH Language Learners
• Ceeceec • Charnwood Regency Guest House (Ltd)
• CMP Legal • Cresco Innovation Ltd • Derwent Pharmacy • Flow Science UK Ltd • Free Your Ostrich Ltd • High Growth • Hitz Rao Photography • Kennedy-Little Associates
• Leicestershire Action for Mental Health Project
• Maggie's Nottingham • MikiMayo Art Studio • Mobile Air Traffic Control
Systems Limited (International)
• Money and Pensions Service • Mount St Bernard Abbey
• MP Bio Science Ltd (International)
• Paragon Sales Solutions • Pattersons Commercial Law • PDSA Nottingham • Royds Mill Studios • Sai Water UK Ltd
• Savage Marine Limited (International)
• Sky Recruitment Solutions • Stevie Davies Glass • Studio4.6
• Synergy Procurement Solutions
• The Food Incubator Ltd • The Little Survey Company • The Salespeople‘s Charity • The Workplace Depot Limited
• Total Industrial Engraving Limited
• VishwArt Ltd • Weavers of Nottingham
• Wesley Hall Community Centre
• WK3 Electrical Services
customers chose to close production. Today we are starting to recover, and we are seeing demand for orders start to build.
What do you believe is the most important role of a Chamber of Commerce? When I first started Verotapes, my agenda included joining the local Chamber of Commerce as soon as possible. Being a sole trader, I felt I
needed the range of support the Chamber offered. In the early days, I attended many networking events, which were good for meeting new contacts and a change from working alone.
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