Wide client base leaves Slingsby confident of coping with squeeze

Slingsby, which is based in Baildon, near Bradford, West Yorkshire, makes and distributes 35,000 workplace products through its catalogue and website. The company said trading had continued to improve in the second half of 2010.

In the year ended December 31 2010, Slingsby achieved turnover of £16.7m, compared with £15.8m the year before.

Profit before tax was £1.1m, a slight increase on the £1m recorded the year before.

John Waterhouse, the company’s non-executive chairman, said: “The company continues to invest in information technology systems, focusing on the supply chain, links with customers and web trading.

“During the year, sales through the Slingsby website grew significantly and now represent a core business channel.

“Sales through our printed catalogue still remain very important but, to reflect changing buying habits, a decision was made to produce a single catalogue in 2010 and thereafter, rather than the twice-yearly publication as in previous years.

“Trading during the first quarter of 2011 was in line with the board’s expectations and going forwards, through our diverse customer base and wide product selection, we believe that the company is well positioned to withstand further pressure on public sector spending.

“Although we continue to adopt a cautious view on the economic environment, the company remains satisfactorily placed to exploit opportunities as they arise.”

Mr Waterhouse praised Slingsby’s staff who had “continued to serve the company well in difficult circumstances”.

The board is recommending a final dividend of 35.0p.

Last December, the firm said it had been inundated with orders for snow and ice-related equipment after it invested heavily in snow shovels, salt spreaders, grit bins and ice melt, a powder which melts ice on pathways and roads.

The cold weather caused chaos around the country with long delays on the roads and cancellations on the railway net- work.

Slingsby’s success is due in part to its on-site plastic moulding facility, which allows it to produce grit bins and other similar products using recycled plastic.

The firm’s clients range from small businesses to major corporates as well as the NHS.

The group’s origins go back to 1893, when Harry Crowther Slingsby obtained his first orders for trucks.

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