Loxleys wraps up big birthday celebrations and looks to the future
The Loxleys team has been busy celebrating this month as the Sheffield-based specialist greeting card printer marked 170 years in business.
Having survived various conflicts including the two World Wars, two factory fires, Covid19, and endless market changes along the way, it’s all going well at the company that started life in 1854 as a printer, bookseller and stationer in the city centre.
And it has just wrapped up the birthday celebrations with the Sheffield Star including an article on the company, as well as party fun for staff with an employee bake-off, cupcakes, and fish and chip supper for all, plus a raffle.
And customers could join in too, with the Instagram competition where the lucky winner received 170 greeting cards printed, packed and shipped by Loxleys, all sent in time for the Christmas rush.
“The business has seen a lot of changes throughout my 27 years here,” said MD Tony Lorriman, “including our management buyout in 2022. Carrying 170 years of heritage is huge achievement and a huge responsibility, as the board of directors we are the current custodians, and our primary objective is to ensure Loxleys’ longevity long into the future.
“We have a lot of people to thank for helping us reach this milestone, it wouldn’t have been possible without our employees, loyal customers and suppliers. Throughout the years we’ve remained flexible and adapted to the world around us as required. From printing commercial items, to becoming a specialist greeting card manufacturer, to adapting to online/homeworking for Covid lockdowns, to modifying and converting kit for market changes.
“It’s been a learning curve and there have been moments when I think why on earth have I done this but to come in as a 23-year-old salesperson and now be the owner of this company with its incredible history is a huge honour.”
After well over a century and a half, Tony is proud that three things have remained the same – the place they call home as they’re still working from their Victorian building originally used as a skating rink; their flexibility of consistently evolving to meet the needs of their customers; and their unwavering dedication to print.
And marketing manager Alice Woodland explained the employee fun saw the bake off judged and crowned by Loxleys’ very own Paul (not) Hollywood, birthday cupcakes and fish and chips for all, supplied by a local chip van.
Loxleys also kindly received £570 worth of donated prizes for its staff raffle, with prizes including a £170 gift card, Thornbridge brewery tour, Fortnum & Mason hampers, pamper hampers, champagne, Hotel Chocolat treats and more thanks to generous industry suppliers Die-Set Formes, Elliot Baxter, Fedrigoni, and PLG.
Earlier in the summer, the printer sponsored the PG Live opening drinks, and Tony added: “Being the lead sponsor of the PG Live opening drinks was a no brainer for us, the show creates a space for greeting card designers and businesses to get together, be inspired, and celebrate all the creativity within our market.
“The first night’s drinks are always a good place to catch up with industry friends and meet new ones. Sponsoring that is our way of saying thank you to Jakki, Warren and the rest of PG for all the hard work that goes in behind the scenes to make it possible.”
The company has also launched its brand new website, supported the GCA in sponsoring the annual AGM, and on 28 November is teaming up with the industry association again to host the first Northern Print Workshop.
The open day is available to all GCA members, with tickets to be sold via the association’s website and participants will be invited on site to Loxleys to learn about the printing process, see live demos and get involved with activities.
The company opened on 14 October, 1854, as Loxley Brothers after founders William and Edward, and the printing arm moved to the former Empire Roller Skating Rink in 1921, although had to rebuild just two years later after a blaze destroyed the factory – it was reopened in grand fashion in 1925 by Gordon Selfridge of Selfridges department store.
One of its London buildings was bombed during the 1941 Blitz, and there was a smaller fire in Sheffield in 1950, before the move to greeting card printing came in 1980 having previously produced everything from catalogues, brochures and magazines to labels for goods including Smarties, Batchelors Peas and Izal toilet rolls.
After debt and poor sales threatened the business in 1991 it was pulled back from the brink, and since 2000 cards have been its sole product, and the latest owners of Tony and his three colleagues, Gary Anderson, Paul Brooks and Gary McCrorie, took over in 2022, having racked up well over 80 years between them of working for the firm.
With three new apprentices starting in the past couple of years, and many long-serving employees among the 95 staff at the head office and 15 at its warehouse and distribution centre in Attercliffe as well as couples and parents and children working together, IT and HR manager Helen Roberts spoke for many.
Having started 33 years ago as an office junior, she said: “It’s a good place to work. People stay because they like the colleagues they’re working with, and there’s a real family atmosphere.
“The latest change of ownership was a big deal for a lot of us working here because it’s nice that people who have been with the company for a long time now own it. They’ve earned it and they’re good people to work for.”
