A market-leading company from Wrexham has launched a major new venture which it hopes will make it a big hit with fellow businesses.
The House Name Plate Company, the UK’s leading manufacturer of bespoke property nameplates, is now offering a custom-made business signs service.
The company say the setting up of HNP Signs is a response to increasing demand from the world of business and industry.
It is a major diversification for the Ruabon-based company which was the subject of a management buyout last year.
HNP, which was formerly part of the Timpsons business empire with its 800 plus high street shops and an annual turnover of more than £150 million, is now owned and run by directors Tina Smith and Kathryn Terry.
Their venture into the world of business signs is a logical one, says Managing Director Tina, who was formerly Regional Managing Director of major housebuilder Westbury Homes and a Managing Director with Timpsons.
Businesses can now browse and select products either through the HNP Signs Trade Catalogue or online at www.businesssignsuk.com.
She said: “We’re looking at the future of the business and which way it should be going and seeing what our competitors are doing.
“We’re really looking to go business-to-business with a range of bespoke signs specially for businesses. They need to get out there and get themselves noticed and we can help them do just that.
“We have had a management buyout was a pretty big step for the company but we’re looking to diversify away from just house signs and letter boxes and increasingly we are looking to providing business signs and health and safety signage.”
In addition to a comprehensive range of statutory and information signs, the website also includes a unique “build a sign online” feature for ordering bespoke signage.
Commercial Director Kathryn Terry said: “We have been making house signs for 25 years and we wanted to offer our expertise to businesses.
“We have been receiving more and more orders from the companies and organisations across the UK so the creation of HNP Signs was the best way of catering for the demand.
“HNP Signs has by far the most comprehensive offer in the market and will further strengthen our position as the UK’s leading manufacturer of Bespoke Signs.”
HNP has been based in Ruabon on the Vauxhall Estate since 1985 and currently employs 40 people at the factory which is equipped with a foundry as well as the latest laser-guided engraving machinery.
They are the UK’s largest manufacturer of Bespoke Signs, Pet Products, Stock House Numbers, Letterboxes, Door Furniture and Information Signs and all their bespoke signs are manufactured at the factory.
They number some of the country’s biggest retail names among their customers, including DIY giants B and Q and Homebase as well as catalogue merchant Argos.
Tina Smith added: “We are looking to grow the business in different markets so that we rely less on a small number of large customers and move into the consumer market so that not all our eggs are in a few large boxes.
“What makes us special in our market place it’s our range of products. There are lots of sign manufacturers who can do certain things but we do all sorts of things from engraving to casting so we can provide a greater range of services and this now includes business signs.”
