A Lifetime In Wholesaling

From the day I left school, my father helped me get a temporary job in the electrical department of his employer. What was meant to be a stopgap quickly became my lifelong career.

I started at the bottom—sweeping floors, taking deliveries, filling shelves, and sorting returns. Eventually, I graduated to the heart of any electrical wholesaler: the trade counter. That’s where I truly learned the ropes, the hard way—no computers, just handwritten records and customer relationships built face-to-face.

The 1980s brought a move to a larger independent wholesaler, where I took on more responsibility: deliveries, ordering stock, and sales. That led to my first management role, overseeing three small branches in West Yorkshire—a real 'thrown in at the deep end' moment.

In the early '90s, I had a brief stint with a national company, B&F Group, before returning to my independent roots. Eventually, I partnered with a trusted colleague to open our own electrical wholesalers.

Life came full circle when my business partner moved on, and I’ve now been running the business solo for the past 13 years. It's been over 55 years in the trade—a journey marked by continuous change. From rewireable fuses and copper-clad cables to LED lighting, anti-surge MCB boards, and today’s renewable technologies, I’ve witnessed and adapted to the evolving face of the industry.