Case Study: Diamond Print Express
A west Hull business has celebrated its seventh birthday with remarkable growth, despite the economic climate, and helped by the city’s Grow initiative.
Diamond Print Express, based at the Louis Pearlman Centre, Goulton Street, Hull specialises in embroidering and screen-printing corporate clothing, which has seen its growth spiral by 20 per cent in each of the last three financial years, despite difficult trading and weather conditions in the winter of 2010.
A west Hull business has celebrated its seventh birthday with remarkable growth, despite the economic climate, and helped by the city’s Grow initiative.
Diamond Print Express, based at the Louis Pearlman Centre, Goulton Street, Hull specialises in embroidering and screen-printing corporate clothing, which has seen its growth spiral by 20 per cent in each of the last three financial years, despite difficult trading and weather conditions in the winter of 2010.
Diamond Print Express was the brainchild of former KC engineer Peter Kenningham (42) and his late wife Nicky. The company started out from premises in Argyle Street in 2004, after Pete left his job of 15 years with KC to look after Nicky who had cystic fibrosis and was awaiting a lung transplant. The business began as a litho company which Pete ran with his best friend, this then developed into them doing screen printing when a customer suggested that it would be a good idea.
Pete says: “I learnt a lot in that year, supported by Nicky, and we had brilliant trade growth then. My cousin Andy helped during the time when Nicky was so ill as he covered the business to let us go on holidays. When I lost Nicky, I had promised her I wouldn’t give up.”
After merging his business with a couple of joint ventures, four years ago, Pete switched the business to the Louis Pearlman Centre on Goulton Street and he now occupies two of the largest business units.
“I took on my first staff three years ago to ease my stress levels. They covered administrative support but later, as business grew, I recruited two staff for the workshop where one works a heat press and the other looks after embroidery. Our latest member is an apprentice, who was taken on through a disability grant from Hull City Council.”
The growth of Peter’s business has come with investment in his first embroidery machine, three years ago, after previously sub-contracting the work. Diamond Print Express was one of the first businesses to benefit from mentoring support from the city’s Grow initiative. This partnership, which includes Probe (Hull) Ltd, Latitude, Goodwin, Llite and skills for communities provided a £500 “into work into business” grant to fund a new computer and investment in a lighter heat press to allow the company to print names and numbers onto sports kit. Through this support Peter was also able to get help with compiling risk assessments for his premises and contracts for his staff.
Diamond Print Express has also now harnessed the power of the internet with growing online sales and the site is undergoing a revamp with consumer-friendly buying guides. Find it at www.diamondprintexpress.co.uk.
Pete says: “I have made up for lost time. I did poorly at school and did not have a business background, I was maybe a rough diamond, but I have created a business from scratch and have maintained the belief my late wife had. It’s been an eventful seven years and I hope I have a happy team to take the business forward. At the moment they are undergoing NVQs in customer service management to ensure we provide the highest standards.”
Pete Kenningham: Diamond Print Express: 01482 325633
Pete says: “I learnt a lot in that year, supported by Nicky, and we had brilliant trade growth then. My cousin Andy helped during the time when Nicky was so ill as he covered the business to let us go on holidays. When I lost Nicky, I had promised her I wouldn’t give up.”
After merging his business with a couple of joint ventures, four years ago, Pete switched the business to the Louis Pearlman Centre on Goulton Street and he now occupies two of the largest business units.
“I took on my first staff three years ago to ease my stress levels. They covered administrative support but later, as business grew, I recruited two staff for the workshop where one works a heat press and the other looks after embroidery. Our latest member is an apprentice, who was taken on through a disability grant from Hull City Council.”
The growth of Peter’s business has come with investment in his first embroidery machine, three years ago, after previously sub-contracting the work. Diamond Print Express was one of the first businesses to benefit from mentoring support from the city’s Grow initiative. This partnership, which includes Probe (Hull) Ltd, Latitude, Goodwin, Llite and skills for communities provided a £500 “into work into business” grant to fund a new computer and investment in a lighter heat press to allow the company to print names and numbers onto sports kit. Through this support Peter was also able to get help with compiling risk assessments for his premises and contracts for his staff.
Diamond Print Express has also now harnessed the power of the internet with growing online sales and the site is undergoing a revamp with consumer-friendly buying guides. Find it at www.diamondprintexpress.co.uk.
Pete says: “I have made up for lost time. I did poorly at school and did not have a business background, I was maybe a rough diamond, but I have created a business from scratch and have maintained the belief my late wife had. It’s been an eventful seven years and I hope I have a happy team to take the business forward. At the moment they are undergoing NVQs in customer service management to ensure we provide the highest standards.”
Pete Kenningham: Diamond Print Express: 01482 325633
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