Page 20 - BOSS Today Issue 10

WINNER

THE
BOSS
INDUSTRY
AWARDS
2011

FINDING A WAY

FORWARD

Michael Girton was determined not to let his background form his future, so
he launched Global Office Supplies from his bedroom. Its success earned him

the Entrepreneur of the Year award this year – at the age of just 25

here can’t be many But few of them have had to choose the right path for my Global Office Supplies is turning
25-year-olds in the UK the life story of Michael Girton, future. I didn’t want to let my over £1m just three years after
Twho are the owner and managing director of Global mum down.” Michael launched the company
managing director of a £1m Office Supplies based in Dartford So although he left school at from his bedroom at home.
turnover company. in Kent, and the winner of the 16 to work for many companies Now the office supplies dealer
Among those who are, many, Entrepreneur of the Year Award including a stationery company, employs nine people and
you would guess, might have at this year’s BOSS Awards and he didn’t enjoy it and decided to counting, and has just purchased
left school at 16. How else would “Dealer of the year “ at the XPD spend some time abroad selling another three offices next to his
they gain enough experience to awards. nightclub tickets on the beach in head office in Dartford to cope
be able to launch on their own? His story is quite extraordinary. Greece. But he knew he couldn’t with expansion.
“My parents split when I was spend the rest of his life having a The award judges were
young and I lived with my mum good time in Greece so decided certainly won over. They said they
in South London,” he says, “and it was time to head back home were impressed with Michael’s
due to visiting my dad in prison to pursue his dream. He always “raw and natural energy, shown
as a youngster, I decided I didn’t knew he wanted to own his own through his desire to get Global
want to follow suit and I wanted company one day. “I always knew Office Supplies off the ground”.
I wanted to do my own thing,” “His determination to succeed
he says. in a market that was going
His achievement is through some turbulent times
remarkable. and his attitude to keep going
under his personal circumstances
came as an inspiration to many,”
they added.
Michael says he founded his
business on three principals.
The first of these was the
reason why he named the
company “Global”. Although the
company currently does not
supply internationally, he has
New York in his sights. But the
“Global” name emphasises the
company’s green credentials.
It is known within the industry
as “The Global Friendly Office
Supplier”. Every customer is given
a “green book” which explains
how they can work with the

20 BOSS TODAY | November/December 2011

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