STEEPED IN HISTORY Over 100 years ago, tucked away under the pavements of Ludgate Circus in London was the very first stock of paper sold by EBB. A historic family-owned and run business, the company was founded back in 1922 by Alan Elliott who worked for a national paper merchant, selling paper. One century later, the company is into its fourth generation of Elliott ownership and management and employs around 280 staff members in the UK and Ireland, and has 11 storage and distribution sites covering the UK and Ireland. Matt Elliott, great-grandson of Alan and son of current chairman Tim Elliott (Alan’s grandson), paints a picture of the company’s early days: “After a particularly good week, Alan Elliott decided to start trading on his own account. Elliott Baxter & Company was formed on a backing of £30 with a partner named Baxter who had put up half the money, which he didn’t appear to match with enthusiasm as he soon departed. “Paper was initially stored in a small basement, next to some coal, under the pavements of Ludgate Circus in the City of London. The first EBB van had to be loaded on a crowded bus stop!” Elliott explains how in 1948, John Elliott, the son of Alan, swapped his Actors’ Equity card for membership of the Paper Trade, joining the family business after an 18-month apprenticeship in a paper mill. Founder Alan then retired from active participation in the company and passed away in 1972. Many changes As you would imagine, the past 100 years have seen many changes for EBB with the company growing and expanding out of London and across the south and southwest of England, up North, and also into Ireland. In 1977, Alan’s grandson, Jeremy, joined the company, followed by his brother Tim three years later. In 1981, same day deliveries increased with stock capacity hitting 2,000 tonnes. The company’s 60th anniversary in 1982 saw EBB's service computerised to handle growing sales with the business running at around 150 orders a day. In 1985, Tim took over as managing director with John becoming chairman where he remained until his retirement in 1991 after 44 years of building the company. Ten years later and a commemorative coin was made to mark EBB’s 75th anniversary which is now stored in the archives of The British Museum. Just before the turn of the century, EBB acquired Howard Davies Paper in 1999, a sign of the company’s success and growth. As it continued to evolve, the year 2000 marked a significant moment – EBB made the move to the web. Two years later and the company’s 80th anniversary saw it reach £65m in sales. Two years after that was a big year for acquisitions as the company bought York & Ford Southern and rival merchant H V Beever. The year 2005 saw Matt Elliott join the company, 25 years to the day his father joined. One year later and EBB took over Moorgate Paper’s West Country operations with Yeovil becoming its ninth branch. 32 A proud and historic family-owned and run business, EBB has been delivering paper for over 100 years. We speak to current managing director Matt Elliott to find out the secret to such a long run of success email: news@printmonthly.co.uk March / April 2023 - Issue 341 COMPANY SPOTLIGHT / EBB Paper was initially stored in a small basement, next to some coal, under the pavements of Ludgate Circus in the City of London. The first EBB van had to be loaded on a crowded bus stop! ▲ EBB delivering paper in London in the 1950s
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