29 www.printmonthly.co.uk March / April 2025 - Issue 353 COMPANY SPOTLIGHT / WOODBANK OFFICE SOLUTIONS HUMBLE BEGINNINGS, BRIGHT FUTURE ▲ Janet Bowden, managing director of Woodbank Office Solutions Founded in 1989, Woodbank Office Solutions celebrated 35 years in business last year. The Stockport headquartered company has risen from a side project of its founder, Janet Bowden, to a 13-strong team with regional offices in Liverpool and Leeds. The company is still growing now, with 28% growth achieved in 2024 and 34% growth forecast for 2025. Woodbank offers managed print services and document management solutions from companies including Konica Minolta, Sharp, and Kyocera. It has risen to become the leading provider of Sharp and Konica Minolta in North West England. Customers come to Woodbank looking for ways to reduce print costs and waste, while increasing versatility and flexibility. As print equipment has evolved to become more reliable, complex, and digitally secure, Woodbank’s offerings have kept up. But where did the company start, and how did it develop? We do a deep dive on the company and its founder to find out more . Woodbank’s founder and managing director, Janet Bowden, didn’t begin her career in print, coming from self-proclaimed humble beginnings. In fact, she was first sent to catering college as a young woman by her mother. After not enjoying catering work, she managed to talk her way into becoming an underwriter at Rothschild Bank, moving on to repossessing and selling photocopiers for the company. As Bowden puts it: “Obviously I faked all my qualifications”. The work for Rothschild sparked the idea in Bowden’s head to start selling her own photocopiers and printers, initially as a side hustle, which is where the Woodbank concept began. The name Woodbank simply came from the area she lived in at the time. One of the first companies Bowden approached was Minolta (now Konica Minolta). According to her, the manufacturer initially ignored her requests to partner, but she persevered. “Well, I wasn’t going to give up,” she says when reminiscing on those early days. “I wanted to be the Waitrose of the copier world, and I didn’t want any other equipment than Minolta,” she remembers. Konica Minolta are still a major partner of the company today, with Woodbank offering a range of its solutions including its Bizhub 551i and Bizhub C4001i machines. Bowden’s passion is still clear today – “No day or week is ever the same”, she says. “It’s what keeps this business so interesting and exciting. We all still feel the excitement of welcoming a new customer to our business and the pride of looking after customers who have been with us for many, many years.” When asked about what sets Woodbank apart, Bowden is quick to highlight the company’s consistency, both in the delivery of its solutions and the staff at the company. Pride in the work and an enjoyment of its variety are also important, both to Bowden and the wider company. As she puts it: “We all still feel the excitement of welcoming a new customer to our business and the pride of looking after customers who have been with us for many, many years.” Woodbank’s current team of 13 includes engineers, in-house customer service operatives, and dedicated regional account managers. The majority of the team have worked at the company for over ten years, with many having been at the company for over 20. “Their experience and knowledge makes the difference at Woodbank,” Bowden asserts. The company is also still in its original four-story building in Stockport, which acts as a head office and hub for meetings and visitors while supporting the regional offices in Liverpool and Leeds. According to Bowden, while the company has grown over the years, its values have remained. She comments: “Our values and ethos of honesty and openness have never changed. We understand that one size doesn’t fit all. It starts with the right copier at the right price and from our very first meeting or conversation, our service has to be first class. “It’s that collective honesty, openness, and service that’s always appreciated.” 1989 – The company was founded in 1989, with the first employee hired in 1991 35 years – The company celebrated its 35th anniversary in 2024 13 – The company currently employs 13 members of staff 3 – The company has three offices: its Stockport headquarters as well as Liverpool and Leeds Statistics After celebrating 35 years in business last year, Woodbank Office Solutions is set for year-on-year growth for 2025. We talk to founder, Janet Bowden, about the company’s history and how she forged the company from a solo venture Solutions That Stand Out From Caterer to Company Owner
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjM0NDIxOA==