Stability of business allows co-founder to take on consultancy role after 40 years in industry
After four decades of working in the industry, from Friday, April 1, Mark Mostyn is stepping back from the running of WPL Gifts to move into a consultancy role.
His business partner and company co-owner Chris Noble will continue to run day-to-day operations as managing director.
Mostyn, as he’s more commonly known, started in the greeting card and gift industry back in 1981 with Andrew Whiteway at Whiteway Publications Ltd, becoming its sales director for over 30 years. In 2018 Andrew decided to leave the business to concentrate on his other interests, notably as a shareholder in a Hong Kong-based sourcing company.
Together with gift industry stalwart Chris, previously a director of Xpressions for 16 years and consultant to WPL for its last five years, Mostyn formed the new company WPL Gifts which they jointly owned and have been running as joint managing directors.
Having hit the ground running with a successful launch and sales of a number of new product ranges which continue to prosper and grow, Mostyn says: “The stability of the company allows me to realise my long-term plan from the outset to take on a reduced role in the day-to-day running of the business.”
While relinquishing his position as director and co-owner of WPL Gifts, Mostyn will still be involved the business for the foreseeable future, looking after key accounts and international business. “My new role will still be a significant commitment but will allow time to pursue other professional and personal ambitions,” he explains.
Commenting on his time in the greetings and gift sector, Mostyn says: “The industry has served me well. I always refer to the Tim Porte (Paperlink sales director 1995-2017) line – ‘I wish we’d known at the time how good things were’!”
Highlighting some of the changes he has experienced over the last four decades, Mostyn adds: “With one or two honourable exceptions, the supplier-buyer relationships are now more transactional and without the personal interactions that made it more enjoyable. Other changes are the obvious ones of supermarket and online players making their presence felt.”
Top: Mark Mostyn is stepping back at WPL Gifts
