Page 14 - BOSS Today Issue 12

Anniversary

Andrew Prosser

GETTING CREATIVE
If there is one area of Integra’s
activities that has really
developed over the 15 years,
it’s the Creative Services
Department.
So much has it developed in
fact, that in 2009 the decision
was taken to open its services
to organisations outside the
YEARS OF WORKING FOR DEALERS Integra membership – even
organisations that are outside
the office supplies industry. But
The UK’s oldest dealer group celebrates its 15th birthday then with well over two decade’s

as Integra this year experience of putting together
catalogues, the department has
a lot to offer, which probably
THE INTEGRA TIMELINE offering large format POS service, explains the success it has already
offering large format POS service,
1997: Instat merges with retail consultancy and dedicated achieved with new clients.
retail consultancy and dedicated
National Dealer Alliance (NDA) to
retail supplier agreements
National Dealer Alliance (NDA) to retail supplier agreements And yet what an experience.
become Integra. Instat founder supported by the opening of Creative Services Director
supported by the opening of
Ron Prosser, who got the idea ‘the initiative shop’. The Creative Andrew Prosser’s memories of
‘the initiative shop’. The Creative
for the group from a plotline on Services Department also starts what creative life was like back in
Services Department also starts
The Archers, retires six months offering a creative design service the 1990s aren’t exactly fond, but
offering a creative design service
later. 1998: Two other groups for members and suppliers. they are vivid.
for members and suppliers.
Integra becomes a reseller of
also merge with Integra – Integra becomes a reseller of “It could quite seriously take
BCSA, a group weighted more Sales-I software – a customer most of the year to get every
Sales-I software – a customer
relationship management (CRM)
towards office consumables, relationship management (CRM) single product photographed
Aidan McDonough
system which also provides
and COG, computer hardware system which also provides from suppliers,” he says. “The
members with GAP analysis
specialists. David Chalkly of WG members with GAP analysis photography budget, as you
tools so that users can start
Office Supplies takes over from Programme, so called because tools so that users can start would expect in such a scenario,
Programme, so called because
Prosser as chairman, shortly to it is partly designed to support to analyse how their sales are was also quite something. All the
be followed by Rick Needle. The members buying the initiative going. The cost is subsidised photographers were still using
concept for Integra’s own-brand, brand. This fund has paid £1.4m by the group to make it more solid film, so each time there was
initiative office products, is back to members in the past five affordable for members. 2012:
developed. 1999: The own- years. 2009: Integra’s Creative Integra celebrates its 15th
brand is officially launched. It has Services Department offers its birthday. The organisation now
since created £18m in end user services to companies outside has around 280 members. The
sales for Integra members. 2007: the organisation, both within management team is now made
Aidan McDonough takes over the office services sector and up of McDonough, Neil Basham
from Rick Needle as managing beyond. The move has proved and Rob Jenkins. The board also
director. The organisation is successful, as the organisation includes four non-executive
promptly restructured, with can make use of the expertise directors: chairman Carl Dovey,
surplus income now being paid in catalogue production it of Bates Office Solutions, David
back to dealer members, rather has built up over the past 15 Emery of the COS Group, Simon
than shareholders, in the form years. 2011: An improved retail Bishop of Bishop’s Office, and
of the initiative Investment programme was launched, Peter Wallis of Wallis Office.
14 BOSS TODAY | May/June 2012

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