EPE International: Celebrating 20 years
2005
Noel said. “The market is there to grow the business.”
The fundamentals of service and offering a high quality of service, includes next day delivery. Harry said: “We’re the only distributor in the UK now that represents branded SDA products. “We don’t have a brand. We licence brands and we engage in strategic relationships with brands of heritage and authenticity. We honour the brands we represent; we honour our customers and we honour our staff as well. “We don’t want to dilute our business model, and we’re not interested in own brand – we’ll always sell brands. We always give that service to independents, multiples and nationals.” From November 1, EPE International
will look after Husqvarna’s, garden brands Flymo, Gardena, and McCulloch. Harry said: “Husqvarna has signed a long- term agreement with EPE International to distribute its products to independents and multiples – Husqvarna will open the garden industry for us.”
Looking back over the last 20 years, Noel said that the business has built up a really good reputation with suppliers and customers. “We want to work in partnership with both suppliers and customers,” Noel said. With a plethora of brands in the portfolio, Harry pointed out that each brand has its own dominant product category. “The customer out there needs choice,” Harry said. “Retailers used to need a good, better, best in a category, but now you need entry level, good, better, best and promotional.” EPE International has 50 staff and Harry
said that some employees have been with the company for more than 15 years. “We’ve got customers that have been here for 20 years and brands that’ve been here
4
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20 years too,” Harry added. “We’re not trying to be the biggest and
the best; we’re trying to do the job correctly. “We’re trying to give value to each
individual customer, and value to each individual brand. It’s not about hitting big numbers now, and then not doing it tomorrow – it’s about growth.” In the current cost-of-living crisis, EPE International is seeing peaked interest in slow cookers and air fryers. Noel said: “For the right products, consumers are willing to spend; they’re not wanting to trade down. Going back to the recession of 2008, if consumers had money, they would spend it on the right product for their needs.”
For two successive years, EPE International has been named as one of 1,000 Companies to Inspire Britain, which is London Stock Exchange Group’s celebration of some of the fastest-growing and most dynamic small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the UK and Europe. “We’re very proud of that,” Harry said.
“We punch above our weight; we’ve got some of the most inspiring brands, working with the most inspiring distributor, accompanied by the most inspiring staff.” Looking ahead, both Noel and Harry said
that growing staff will be the most exciting part of 2023 for the business. Harry said: “We’re organically growing
the next level of management. Sophie Littlewood, who’s been here for four years, has become marketing head; and Simon Dawson, who’s been here for 10 years, has become head of sales. “This is about getting the next level of management in order to strengthen our service.”
Noel added: “It’s about taking the business to the next level with a solid foundation.” “As much as there’s so much negativity
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2010
We don’t have a brand. We licence brands and we engage in strategic relationships with brands of heritage and authenticity.
in the marketplace, we see a positive opportunity, We are in a mature market and as long as you’ve got the right products and you can deliver them, there’s plenty of customers. “We have some great relationships with customers; without relationships with the customer, you have nothing. “We’ve stuck to the core fundamental values – if we’re going to do it, do it right. Yes, we’ve made mistakes like everybody; we’ve made good decisions, bad decisions and lukewarm decisions – but we have stuck to the core fundamental values when we’ve had to get stuck in and get the job done.” Harry added: “We are distributors, and we do that well; we actually do it better than anyone else.” Harry said that as well as business partners for 20 years, he and Noel were friends long before EPE International. Harry said: “The friendship that we had
before the business, and the friendship that we have now, is completely different. “I wouldn’t want another business partner; Noel has been the perfect business partner for me.”
Noel added: “We don’t see eye-to-eye all
the time, but instead of not being able to discuss it, we find that way to work through it, and that’s what has made the business so successful.” With its 150,000sq feet warehouse, EPE International is well placed for future growth and customers herald its next day delivery, and its specialism in drop shipment solutions.
October/November 2022 | EPE International Special
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