Business built by popularity of personalised wares

Press, 16 September 1987, Page 29

Business built by popularity of personalised wares

Mandeville Marketing began as a modest parttime business five years

ago. Since that time it has grown to such an extent that the time has now come to move into larger premises. Glenis and John Milne, who own Mandeville Marketing, started in a small way, selling personalised clocks and watches. These sold so well the business has never looked back. The business was started as an interest for Glenis which she combined with raising the couple’s two young children, Gareth, aged six, and Anna, aged three. "I enjoy being kept busy and dealing with people,” she says. The business soon kept her busier than she bargained on, and she remembers being kept up till 2 a.m. packing clients’ orders when she had a

week-old baby. They chose the name Mandeville Marketing as a name indicative of Riccarton where they live.

Their home is on part of what used to be the old Mandeville Estate.

After selling personalised desk clocks and watches for five months, John and Glenis realised that there was a big market for what they were doing. As the business became more time-consum-ing, Glenis began to employ sales staff, and the range of merchandise grew. Now they supply anything that can be personalised. From inside the house, the business moved to the rear of their section into separate premises. Their new premises has 1500 square feet which includes three offices, reception and a warehouse. Building up the business was a lot of hard work, but very satisfying to be able to bring it to the point it is at today, Glenis Milne says.

John Milne’s input during these years was limited to the time he could spare from his duties in the police.

He left the force to join Mandeville Marketing full time after a career spanning 16 years.

He was a senior constable and has served in the V.I.P. squad and had been a community constable.

Always interested in business and management, John joined the Institute of Management and took six of their selling courses. He has also completed the course leaders’ course and has lectured in successful selling stage one. He is also a member of their marketing panel.

Raising $73,000 for Cancer Alert made him believe that he was better suited to the business world than being a policeman, though He stresses how much he enjoyed his years in the force.

Encouragement from contacts and friends in the business world gave him the final impetus to join Mandeville Marketing.

“In the climate of restructure today, I’m going to make a new future for myself,” he says.