KempCo Ltd – Friendly, Knowledgeable, Approachable
Founded in 1981 by experienced business machine salesman Martin Gardener, KempCo started trading from a shopfront in the heart of Witham, Essex in the UK selling business machines and related consumables. With the aim of providing a “one-stop-shop” for local businesses, KempCo soon progressed from selling business machines to adding business stationery to the product range.
At the time, a friend of the family who worked in the print industry suggested that offering printing would complement the KempCo products and services – a suggestion which soon led to an investment in printing machines, design studio and darkroom equipment and two large industrial units in Witham. One of which was home to KempCo printing, and the other served as a warehouse, storing paper and stationery items which supplied the shop and from where orders were directly delivered to customers.
A Family Run Business
Initially run by husband and wife team Martin and Eileen Gardener, KempCo soon welcomed their son, Paul, into the business who at the tender age of fourteen and whilst still at school would assist part-time in the shop thoroughly enjoying selling stationery products to a wide variety of customers. Finding a passion for sales and loving the opportunities to build customer relationships, at the age of twenty-three Paul joined the business full-time as a sales representative.
As the business grew machinery engineers were employed to provide on-site servicing for customers and who also assisted with the day-to-day requests and deliveries of the ever-expanding KempCo products and services.
As a result of KempCo’s steady growth, carefully considered diversification and astute acquisitions the team today consists of sales representatives, accounts and sales order processing staff, print production and print finishing operatives and distribution personnel.
Today, the business is run by Paul Gardener who still loves nothing more than looking after existing customers as well as developing new business relationships. Paul can also often be found adding value to business networking events throughout the region and is ably supported by Eileen.
The KempCo Team
- Paul Gardener, Managing Director
- Eileen Gardener, Founder & Director
- Linda Spencer, Finance Controller
- Izzy Lancaster, Sales Administrator
- David Mears, Print & Marketing Manager
- Edward Joseph, Print Technician & Finisher
- Martin Eggleton, Delivery Driver
- Paul Gardener, Managing Director
- Eileen Gardener, Founder & Director
- Linda Spencer, Finance Controller
- Izzy Lancaster, Sales Administrator
- David Mears, Print & Marketing Manager
- Edward Joseph, Print Technician & Finisher
- Martin Eggleton, Delivery Driver
Paul
Linda
Izzy
David
Martin
Eddie
Why KempCo?
Martin and Eileen always had a strong family ethos and starting their new business in 1981 wanted to bring the family element to work. This is how they came up with the company name ‘KempCo’:
Kerry Gardener is their daughter
Eileen Gardener (Co-Founder & Director )
Martin Gardener (Co-Founder)
Paul Gardener their son (Now Managing Director)
Co being the Company.
Strategic, controlled investment
1981: Retail Unit and Shop Front in Witham
1984: Two industrial units in Witham
1995: Beeleigh Litho Printing Company Acquired
2014: Supreme Clean, Janitorial Supplies Division
2019: Chilton Office Supplies
2019: New e-commerce Office Supplies website
2023: New e-commerce Printing Website
KempCo today
Today, KempCo remains a family-run business providing office stationery, janitorial supplies and printing solutions to businesses of all sizes (KempCo is a member of the British Association for Print & Communication). Office machinery continues to be among the products available and includes printers, photocopiers and computers.
For general enquiries please, contact us at sales@kempco.co.uk or call 01376 518000.
For printing enquiries, you are welcome to contact the print shop directly using printshop@kempco.co.uk. We specialise in NCR printed forms as well as letterheads, business cards, brochures and leaflets.
We take pride in providing a free local delivery service to local businesses regardless as to the size of the order. And we don't just drop off at reception - our drivers will happily take your order to the required location within your building.
Next day delivery anywhere to the UK Mainland provided orders are received by us before 5.00pm and we have the stock.
Thank you for your interest in KempCo.
