Second-generation family-owned business Lex Business Equipment is celebrating its 40th anniversary having diversified to weather the coronavirus crisis.
Forty years in business is a significant milestone for any business, but one that is made all the more special as Lex has managed to survive the coronavirus pandemic – and provided equipment to help ensure other businesses do likewise.
During the initial stages of the pandemic in 2020, Lex, a leading Northwest technology, office products and interiors provider, diversified its product offering to serve the rapidly changing needs of its customers at this trying time.
The company acted quickly to the demands of the pandemic, such as securing stocks of laptops, which were in high demand at the time, as well as other home working essentials such as webcams, and home office furniture as many people across the country adjusted to a new way of working. All this was delivered on a next-day basis, safely by courier.
Lex also quickly developed essential janitorial products after being inundated with enquiries for products such as sanitisation, virucidal and cleaning products – as well as dispensers and other COVID essentials such as Perspex screens to put between desks.
“That we were able to help so many local organisations during such a trying time is a great achievement,” says Sam Elphick, Lex’s sales director. “Lex has always been about helping local companies to thrive.”
Founded in 1980 by Wayne Elphick, Lex has changed a lot since he started the business above a shop in Haslingden repairing and maintaining typewriters and cash registers for local businesses.
Now, the Bury-based business is run by father and son team Wayne and Sam Elphick [pictured] and supplies more than 12,000 different products to hundreds of establishments across the region and further afield. Specialising in providing reprographic equipment to organisations on a managed print service, the firm is proud to count Bury Council, BNY Mellon, Vauxhall, as well as one of the UK’s largest estate agency chains as clients.
“We are proud that the company has made it to this significant milestone,” says Wayne. “The success of the business since the beginning has been built on customer service – we really listen the needs of our customers and then do all that we can to deliver what they want for a good price.”
Sam adds: “While we have enjoyed looking back at the history of the company, we are also looking forwards. We have been working hard to retain our competitive edge and remain technologically relevant to our customers.
“We want to continue to support businesses and schools as much as possible during these uncertain times. We have researched and developed our product line to ensure it has everything our customers could need this year and beyond, particularly to facilitate agile working.”
