1 PRINT IN THANET - COVER & BACK COVER & TEXT - FLIPBOOK v26 ZZZ - FAW - Flipbook - Page 32
thirty † thirty one
“I never planned to follow my dad’s footsteps into the print industry – ...
and continued to print commercial work for other clients. It also printed
the paper used for Waddington’s boardgames and their boxes (which were
assembled elsewhere), Monopoly money, and rule books. In the first year
of ownership Waddington lost £600,000. They brought in a new director,
Graham Noakes. Charged with improving the business, Noakes reduced
the 185 staff down to 150, mainly through retirements, and started a new
training scheme to attract younger staff. Waddington operated the site for
a further five years until 1990, when Noakes led a management takeover
through the newly formed Cofete Limited.
In 1995, Northern Ireland-based W&G Baird Group took over. During
this time some of the most important customers to the printers stayed loyal
and helped the organisation through difficult times, according to the CV of a
Customer Services Manager for the organisation. [17.] Finally, in 2009, The
Thanet Press company was bought by Phillip Moore, owner of the Graham
Cumming Group. Two years later, with the staff reduced to just 85, The
↑ 19.
Personalised seaside rock
promotional item [TTP]
↑↑ 20.
A staff and customer meeting during
Waddington ownership
