SUPPLIER PROFILE | LDL
New owners of LDL Components, Simon Noble (left) and Ross Darroch
‘Thenext generation of distributor’
Simon Noble and Ross Darroch, the new owners of Glossop-based LDL Components, tell Rebecca Nottingham why they’re proud to be defined as the industry’s next generation of KBB furniture component distributors
L 18
ast July, two of LDL Com ponent’s key employ- ees, operations director Simon Noble and finance director Ross Darroch, decided to become the new owners of the business when they bought out Simon Ogden as he prepared for early retirement.
Both Darroch and Noble joined the business in 2017 and, over the past six years, had gradually taken on more responsibility as Ogden – perhaps subconsciously earmarking the duo as the next owners – began to take more of a back seat.
“I’ve been in the industry for around years
now,” explains Noble.
“Before joining LDL in 2017, at the same time as Ross,
a chartered accountant, I was working for a 28
competitor of LDL so I had a pretty good grounding in the sector. “When we joined LDL, the business was already in a good position operationally. It already had some great practices and service levels in place – these have always been the fundamental pillars of LDL. All Ross and I have done is just elevate that – and the business – to the next level.” “The way we do things and the way we treat our customers is what makes LDL what it is,” adds Darroch.
Invest in success
The business, they explain, has grown consistently year on year. When Darroch and Noble joined, turnover had
hit £10.5 million. Being a
passionate employee is one thing, but becoming the owners of a business is
quite another. Aside from the fact LDL was clearly trading successfully, what gave them the courage to go from employees to owners?
already
“By that time Simon [Ogden] had started
winding down and
Ross and I had more and more day-to- day responsibility
for
the business,” explains Noble. “So, taking over the business was more like
the
progression.” Since
natural becoming
the new owners of LDL, Noble and Darroch have invested significantly with the imple - mentation
of new
planning, delivery, and communication systems in a bid to improve efficiency and service across the business. This approach and focus on serving its customers are reiterated in the company’s new branding and tag line ‘Made Easy For You’.
We make it as easy as possible for our customers to get what they want, when they want it. It’s that simple
Simon Noble, director, LDL Components
“LDL has always been a successful distributor,” Noble explains. “When Ross and I took over the business last year, we obviously wanted to continue with that curve, but also ensure we were always moving with the times and pushing forward to provide an even better service to our customers. “We make it as easy as possible for our customers to get what they want, when they want it. It’s that simple.”
“During the past 12 months we have undergone a number of developments,” adds Darroch.
“This includes a whole new rebrand,
• December 2023
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