Page 25 - BOSS Today Issue 12

Business transformation

Much MorE than a

naME changE

Tollit & Harvey’s re-branding as Exaclair underlines a
remarkable transformation in a once ailing company

xaclair Ltd. if that sounds as its product ranges better which had been one of its main “Almost immediately after
Elike a suitable name for matched the Exacompta range. attractions to Exacompta. the takeover the worldwide
the UK branch of a European Exacompta is run by Charles The name change to Exaclair recession really started to
multinational, that’s because it Nusse, son of group head came in January 2010, but it bite,” says Daisley, “and while I
is. The European multinational Francois Nusse, and it was he was a decision that was made know this hit everybody in all
in this case is the Exacompta who immediately took on the locally as a means of aligning the industries very hard we have
Clairefontaine Group, a company task of restructuring the business. company more closely with the been able to weather the storm,
manufacturing and distributing Five individuals, who had many Exacompta Clairefontaine Group. so far, and are now reaping
a wide range of stationery, years’ experience of the Tollit & Daisley was made managing the benefits of our hard work.
filing, office products and fine Harvey business, including Mark director in June 2010 and shortly We have the infrastructure in
art materials with a presence in Daisley, then head of finance but afterwards he recruited James place to now take the business
eight European countries. now managing director, were Mead as sales and marketing onwards and upwards.”
But the relationship hasn’t tasked with heading up the director. “Between the three of In fact, the company has
been like that for long. Up until management team and running us – Charles, James and myself - only just placed a €600,000
four years ago the UK branch of the business on a day-to-day we have been able to move the order for new machinery. This
the business was known as Tollit basis. business forward in a focused is just one of many elements
& Harvey, a locally owned family Initially, as is common in and strategic manner,” he says. of the continued commitment
business. The company, which is all takeovers of this nature, The results have been and investment into its UK
based on two sites in King’s Lynn the restructuring included impressive. Since 2008, turnover business as further significant
in Norfolk, had not made a profit a rationalisation of costs. has grown from around £8m capital investment will be
for many years. Overheads were removed, to a forecast of £11.8m for this forthcoming in 2013.
Its transformation since mainly head count at board and year – a growth rate of almost Then in January this year the
August 2008, when it senior management level. 48 per cent. Results for 2011 board was also expanded with
was taken over by part of But there was investment also showed an Earnings Before the appointment of Jonathon
Exacompta Clairefontaine too. In April 2009 SAP software Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and More, who had been with the
Group, is a shining example of was installed in all areas of the Amortization (EBITDA) profit for business some 13 years, as
what can be achieved when business, thus integrating the the first time in 15 years. “We production director. Nor is that
business minds are focused UK company into the software continue to see gross margin all. “The forecast for this year
on turnaround. Immediately used by all of the Exacompta percentage growth as a number shows a 15 per cent growth
following the takeover, Tollit & companies. The focus was to of efficiencies and cost saving in sales,” says Daisley.” It has
Harvey was absorbed into the maintain Tollit & Harvey’s high exercises come into being,” says been an impressive turnaround
Exacompta part of the business standards of customer service Daisley. indeed.

May/June 2012 | BOSS TODAY 25

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