Hetherington Office Supplies Ltd celebrates 30 years in business

Graham and Lindsay Hetherington in 1990 (left) and more recently (right) as their company Hetherington Office Supplies Ltd celebrates 30 years in business

Rochdale-based stationery business Hetherington Office Supplies Ltd celebrates 30 years in business today (Thursday 5 March).

Established in March 1990 by husband and wife team Graham and Lindsay Hetherington, the company began life in a start-up unit at The Enterprise Centre on Dane Street, before moving to Fieldhouse Business Park in 2000.

Already in the industry working for a small stationer in Huddersfield, managing director Graham decided to set the business up and go it on his own, with Lindsay joining him.

Employing eight people and supplying hundreds of local schools and business with materials, Hetherington Office Supplies has overcome numerous challenges from the industry, such as the mail order companies, contract stationers and the internet.

Mr Hetherington said: “We have always promoted ourselves as a local company, employing local people, offering businesses a real offering when it comes to purchasing their office supplies.

“The customer comes first mindset has always been our motto, backed up by unrivalled service to schools and local businesses.”

Hetherington’s next focus is on sustainability, making numerous changes to limit its effect on the planet, such as reusing or recycling boxes and packing in the warehouse, only using recycled boxes, using 100% recycled paper and toner in the office, as well as removing single-use plastic from the office.

Mr Hetherington continued: “We now actively encourage customers to look at alternative products. Rather than look at the cheapest products on the market we try and suggest alternative recycled or sustainably sourced products.

“We now offer our green initiative audit for customers where we review what their top purchased products are and suggest more sustainably sourced alternative products.”

When asked about the future, Mr Hetherington added: “We hope to grow by working with like-minded businesses and in turn employ more local people.

“Here’s to the next 30 years.”

As well as offering typical office supplies, Hetherington Office Supplies also provides a specialist school supplies catalogue with a wide range of Scholastic products, from exercise books and arts and crafts right through to classroom furniture and library refits.