The Clitheroe manufacturer, is celebrating two years of expansion, having grown from two members of staff in 2011 to a team of 14, three printers and seven machines to produce the cups.
With the help of the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS), the business is predicting an increase in orders from 100 to 500 each month over the next five years, with a similarly confident view of increasing exports, which have grown by 30% in the past year.
Managing Director Mark Woodward puts the ambitious growth and targets down to the increased awareness of both green issues and opportunities for business branding. He says that “the population are looking for alternatives to plastic, and paper cups are an eco-friendly, recyclable solution. Because we can print them with a company logo or image, they are also becoming an increasingly popular and cost effective way to brand an event or business.”
According to Woodward’s plans, the projected growth will be possible by doubling “both the workforce and the machine capacity to manage the increase in orders, taking us from 100 to 500 orders a month within five years.”
The company has worked with MAS since it launched and continues to receive support with all aspects of the business from the layout of machines to possible supply chains.
“It has been difficult to start a manufacturing company in this climate, but we knew there was a gap in the market and with the help of MAS and many others, we have been able to move the business forward,” adds Woodward.
MAS Advisor Nick Brandwood said: “They [The Paper Cut Company] identified and have worked tirelessly to dominate their niche market and we have been able to work with them since day one to help develop the business and their team. As a result they are now projecting fantastic growth over the next few years, with more jobs and economic benefit to the local area.”
MAS advisors work with manufacturing SMEs at strategic and operational levels to create business and manufacturing strategies.
