Case Studies

Most independent Electrical Wholesalers in this country seem to be run by entrepreneurs who have been managers of major national or even multi-national companies.

So it is with Wharfside Electrical Supplies which was started in 1999 by Nick King and Lloyd Clarke who had both worked for the giant Rexel Senate.
They opened up in Fenny Stratford with the clear objective of providing electrical supplies to the thriving Milton Keynes area both through accounts and counter sales. Their range has evolved to cover a wide spectrum of electrical goods plus security products, patch panels for networking, power tools from De Walt and very successfully for the last four years, Snickers work wear.

Initially, it was enough to write out orders and invoices and run the accounts on Sage, but after two years of steady growth they installed a complete computer system. Whilst this did a lot more than their manual operation, Nick and Lloyd have high expectations, and they became frustrated by the limitations of the software and possibly because
the suppliers were Northern based and far away, the lack of prompt and capable support.

With a clear idea of what they now needed, in October 2005, they replaced it with a 6 user version of the Intact Management and Accounting package supplied by Ramtac Computer Systems of Berkhamsted in Hertfordshire. The system catered for quotations, sales order processing, both trade counter and back office, purchasing, sales, purchase and nominal ledgers and had been specially developed for Electrical Wholesalers to handle their complex pricing needs and the Luckins pricing interface.

"We were impressed with Ramtac and the Software", says Nick "and they lived up to their initial promises. The support and training are excellent and we can easily visit them for additional training as we incorporate new modules or extend our system use". Both Nick and Lloyd are shrewd and competent and use many of the Intact features to offer good customer service and at the same time watch their margins.

As Nick says, "margins are tight in the electrical industry and it is easy to be busy fools".

They use the system well and have incorporated the Customer Relationship Manager, to ensure that they both look after their customers and are clearly seen to do so. It works with the Intact Task Manager so all issues are computer controlled. Lloyd likes the system reporting, particularly the datadrill and they use the related products feature to comply with WEEE directives. Lloyd also likes the high speed product searching on the trade counter, "our staff are excellent and the system helps them to be that much faster than before" he says.

They would like to move dramatically towards the paperless office and the reduction in the numbers of arch-lever files and, continuing to work in their excellent relationship with Ramtac, they should achieve this over the next year. Wharfside premises have expanded sideways twice over the last three years to accommodate their exciting and profitable growth. They now plan to open a branch on the other side of Milton Keynes which will expand both their lighting sales and trade counter operations as well as their computer system.

In the Brook Road Industrial Estate near the Rayleigh Weir in Essex is a large one and a half acre yard and warehouse with massive stocks of roofing materials of all kinds. From seven o'clock in the morning there is a near constant procession of heavy vehicles in and out of Undercover Roofing Supplies, reflecting their £7.5 million turnover.

The company was started from scratch as recently as 2001 by the then 27 year old Jordan Bailey as he left his management job at Asphaltic and joined financial forces with Peter Hills, who had been a customer of his. They were in Rochford then, further out in Essex with 2 people, a lorry and 2 portacabins on a 1/4 acre site. Nevertheless they turned over £2.5 million in the first year.

The move to Rayleigh happened in April 2005 enabling a wider variety of bitumens, waterproofing and tiles and slates to be stocked from suppliers like Redland and Marley, together with so many other roofing and building materials that they can now supply over 40,000 different products. From a computer standpoint Sage was enough early on, but Jordan needed help to cope with his dramatic growth with far more instant information on product stocking, sales and margins by supplier and categories, and comparison with previous periods and warnings about changing product sales patterns.

He selected the powerful Intact Software packages supplied and supported by Ramtac Computer Systems in Berkhamsted and went live in December 2007 with 11 users on the network. "We now have a high speed product search in both back office and trade counter with one touch history and stock availability. This has improved customer service no end, and my staff are delighted with the system", he says, " even with 40,000 products".

One other big advantage has been that one entry completes all documents and entries through from quotation to order and delivery note(s), invoice, sales ledger and nominal posting, including producing purchase orders where necessary. To maintain their 25% growth per annum since start-up, Undercover are expanding with exciting new products. Working with planners and contractors they are supplying 'green roofs' - roof gardens on bio diverse flat roofs. This approach gives back to nature the footprint of the building, and helping with climate change and the possibility of flooding, the roof gardens have considerable water retention, reducing the effect of heavy rains running off into overloaded drainage systems.

Other products such as the ultra modern TPO single ply and new extruded polystyrenes are also playing a big part helping in GWP (Global Warming Potential).
It is not only new products that are helping Undercover to grow so well - they are good at what they do, with wise technical advice; they are highly pro=active and in general offer a service that helps them to outperform national roofing merchants across the entire Home Counties and London.

"We made a very good decision to install Intact", says Jordan, " and after only 4 months live are seeing huge benefits. To augment our customer service we plan next to implement their Customer Relationship Manager to ensure that we not only continue to look after our customers well but we are seen to look after them.

With Jordan's energy, shrewdness and entrepreneurial spirit, there is little doubt of his continuing success. He sees his Intact software and his close relationship with the Ramtac support team as essential elements in this and looks to them for all support including software, hardware and even security back-up off site. It says a lot for Undercover's planning and staff competence and Ramtac's training and support that such an enthusiastic appraisal of the company using the system so well could be written such a short time after 'go - live'.

St Mickalos is a highly revered saint in Cyprus. When Andreas Timinis started his business in Herne Hill in South London in 1980 he named it after him to ensure a distinctive company name and in the hope that he would have a heavenly patron. The thriving business supplies catering companies of all kinds including cafes and restaurants but especially fish and chip shops; they look to St Mickalos for their total needs - all cooking raw materials, oils, soft drinks, disposable packaging and dishes, cutlery and paper; in fact you name it and they supply it with an enviable service from call to delivery in all of London, the South Coast, Essex and Cambridgeshire.

Michael Timinis joined his father as chief executive some four years ago and has refurbished the offices, painted the premises, improved the telephone system and to ensure they maintain their high customer service standards, he replaced the old computer system in January 2006.

"We have a great business here", he says "but we can never relax. Our computer system from Ramtac Computer Systems is completely state of the art, is designed for catering supplies companies and helps us stay ahead of our competitors."

There are over 1500 companies using the software, which does sales order processing, van routing, stock management, buying and ledgers with high speed and ready access to customer and stock information for both management and operators. Reg Bampoe-Addo is the accountant and IT Manager and says, "the Intact software works well for us and gives us benefits in all areas. Ramtac keep it up to date with new versions on a regular basis."

St Mickalos gives the company a memorable name but its competent management running a good system, and high quality products and service that makes it the success it is.

Amersham is one of the loveliest old towns in the Chiltern Hills and Woodley & Hart have run their business there for over 35 years since it was started by Cath and Peter Woodley.

For years the business ran as a traditional plumbing and heating wholesalers supporting local tradesmen; over the last few years however, they have changed the main thrust of the company to supplying Kitchens, Bedrooms and Bathrooms to the general public while they still do contracts and trade work. They have used the change to create a dramatic enlargement of the showroom with eye-catching displays in Bathrooms and Bedrooms and a new Kitchen supplies showroom to be opened shortly.

Woodleys advise, do a survey, and will also contract for the complete installation offering a range of products from flatpacks through the likes of Ideal Standard and Bristan up to the top of the quality range with such suppliers as Heritage and Swedburgers. In 2006, Clive Woodley made the decision to replace their old computer system "We have modernised in every other way", he said, "and we desperately needed help to run our growing business".

He selected the Intact Accounting and Business Management Software package supplied and supported by nearby Ramtac Computer Systems in Berkhamsted. They went 'live' in April 2007 with the system being developed and managed in-house by Paul Tomlins, who has had nearly 18 years of valuable experience working for the computer giant IBM.

"The system is everything we wanted it to be and a massive improvement over the old system", he says, "and we have built a relationship with the Ramtac support team which is excellent. They are prompt and very competent". Paul finds it much easier these days to maintain price lists and catalogues as they are almost always available from suppliers electronically "you still need to keep on top of them" he says, "because prices change so often".

They use most of the system now, including the ledgers, but get real benefit from quotations, cash sales and the in-built E-mail -"We get a quote out in 15 minutes instead of 2 hours as in the old days".

There is a drill-down and complete audit trail for instant current and historical information.

Woodleys have development plans for the Intact system, and will soon start to use the Customer Relationship Manager. Let Clive Woodley the Managing Director and driving force, have the last word: - "We are already seeing big company benefits in terms of customer service and cost savings. It was a good decision".

In 2002 E C Building Supplies was started in Finchley as a family business to supply merchants and builders with Heavyside building materials. From a relatively humble start the company has expanded to over 20 employees and has developed an enviable reputation for support and service to customers ranging from small builders to large developers of major projects in the North London area.

As the business has grown the opportunity and the need to diversify has enabled the management team to open a specialised laminated guttering company for which there are high hopes. So often, as a young business grows there comes a need for more control, faster document processing and speedy management information; in other words a comprehensive modern computer system. With this in mind ECB management identified the Intact software system at an exhibition; they subsequently had in-depth demonstrations from Ramtac Computer Systems of Berkhamsted some 25 miles away and ordered a ten user system in January 2007.

The system processes quotations and orders, manages stock, posts all the ledgers, has a datadrill and a customer relationship manager all with detailed management reporting. Samir Makani is the Operations/IT manager and says, "Intact allows us to monitor our prices constantly to ensure we are highly competitive and we can also be flexible in deliveries to suit our customers' needs".

ECB has an excellent working relationship with Ramtac whose training has helped to show how user friendly the Intact system is for all staff. As Samir says, "At one time there were just two of us that were IT literate. Now practically everyone on site has a confident understanding of Intact which is an endorsement of its ease of use".

The reasons for installing the system were to cope with growth, to continue to be an efficient professional merchant, to get management information at the touch of a button and to establish a platform for a secure future. All of these ECB is accomplishing in a competent manner in conjunction with the Intact computer system and its relationship with Ramtac.

Quotes from other Builders Merchants using Intact Software

Three Counties Timber and Building Supplies
We have worked well over both our locations with the Intact Software supplied and supported by Ramtac Computers and love it. Used correctly it is an asset to any business.
Richard Dawson - Company Secretary

Folkestone Fixings - Building, Timber, Tools, Fixings and Roofing supplies
We have used the Intact Software packages supplied and supported by Ramtac Computers for over 2 years and have found it invaluable for stock, sales and management controls.
John Drinkwater - Managing Director

Over the years the business has grown and now employs eighteen staff, all of whom help to maintain Ebberns high standards of customer service and support.

The bright and spacious showroom displays over seventy bathroom settings and is staffed by an excellent sales team of five. The showroom caters for retail and trade and offers bathrooms and accessories to suit all budgets and styles. A design service is also available. Ebberns also has an excellent plumbing Trade Counter that is well stocked and competitively priced.

The business has adapted itself to market changes by offering supply, design and installation of Under Floor Heating and Solar Energy.

The Company enjoys high visibility from passing trade as it crosses the Grand Union Canal and there are excellent parking facilities.

As the Company expanded, Co-Directors Tony Barber and Lynn Watt who are ably supported by a strong management team of Kevin Leyman (General Manager), Kirk Holloway (Heating Manager) and Kevin Doyle (Bathroom Showroom Manager), looked at all aspects and the one area that needed particular attention was the computer system.

Lynn said, "We looked at many systems but after much study decided to install a new 18 user system which went live in July 2006.

The system is written by an Irish Company, Intact, and was supplied and installed by Ramtac Computers who are based in Berkhamsted, Herts. It is a totally modern Windows based product that caters for all aspects of Ebberns business, including Invoicing, Ledgers, Management Information, and Automatic back-to-back Purchase Order facility against Sales Orders that are system faxed to our suppliers."

With the Company's strong Trade following, one particular area that Tony enthuses about is the continual good feedback from the Trade customers about the speed in which they are served on the Trade Counter.

Tony says, "In a competitive market the ease and speed across the board on the computer system has given us an edge over all our competitors".

Ebberns have enjoyed continued growth this year and Tony and Lynn credit their close business partnership with their Trade/Retail customers and computer supplier as being crucial to their overall development.

In the meantime through their competent and committed management team and staff, Hemel Hempstead and the surrounding area has been well served by Ebberns and we congratulate them on their continued success and look forward to working alongside them to help them celebrate 25 years of excellent service in 2008.

The Tile Depot Trading's distinctive green and gold logo is becoming a familiar sight on large tile stores in London and the South East of England. 

The are currently 12 of them and there will be 15 by the end of 2007 with a plan to open 5 more a year thereafter.

The company was started in Berkshire in 1995 by Rob Gilbert - after selling his advertising agency- in a far more modest manner than today. For an energetic qualified accountant with a serious background in marketing there were many ongoing career opportunities open to him at the time, but inspiration took him into tiles, having seen a gap in the market for a well organised retailer in this industry.

When Rob decided on a major expansion programme some 3 years ago, he involved venture capitalists to ensure that TDT could afford to grow effectively. He determined on high profile stores with good access and parking in large catchment areas.

TDT also brought in directors and senior managers with proven industry experience to recruit new staff and ensure a high level of personnel competence throughout the operation.

This enabled TDT to implement a policy of best possible customer service to go with keen prices for a wide selection of quality products. They import 75% of their stock from all over the world including far-off China, Brazil Argentina and India.

"The next obvious step was to ensure that they had a better computer system to match their growth and standards of efficiency. Rob and his team selected the Intact system supplied by Ramtac Computers in Berkhamsted. They were influenced by Intact's record in Ireland where they had some 1300 installations including systems in 4 of the 5 largest tile distributors.

"It was important for us to install a system that had specific features for tile companies", says Danny Steptoe, the Finance Director, "it had to be an all in one package, real-time, multi-location and with instant visibility of product across the network. Stores must be able to source product direct from other stores to optimise our stock holding and offer ideal customer service".

Tile Depot were also looking for the right computer people to forge a long term partnership with, who would also keep the software up-to-date as part of the software support and maintenance. Site visits to Ramtac customers confirmed both of those qualities.

Danny again, "Stock management is a key requirement for us, for the system to highlight changing fashions - 10 years ago, we were in the building trade, now we are in the fashion industry and our computer helps us to monitor the movements in style".

TDT have been live on the Intact system for 1 year now and are specifying modifications to customise it further for their needs. The Intact stock reorder point calculation for instance is being extended to operate by each individual location. Together with Ramtac and Ramtac's web design partners they are developing their website with a view to optimised E-commerce trading in the near future.

A major company development is the imminent opening of a new 12000 square foot warehouse.

Well focused, energetic and competitive, the immediate future looks bright for the tile retailer with the familiar green and gold logo.

Over 40 years ago Eddie Barge started a tile and stone contracting business in Lingfield, a Surrey town close to the M25 and dominated on race days by the famous Lingfield Racecourse. He claimed to have the best views of any tile company in England as they look out over Ashdown Forest; Eddie built a showroom to grow the business and to optimise his generous car parking space. Tile sales thrived to such an extent that he ceased contracting in 1996. As he looked to retire this lively business was bought by Bob and Carole Gearing. Bob had been within the tile industry since 1998 and running his own business was something he had always wanted to do.

"When you work for someone else you can to a certain extent, go home and forget about it. However, when you work for yourself it comes home with you", he says. For four years Bob and his team ran the business and Carole brought up their two children and did the ‘books' on a Quickbooks system which was adequate at the time. However, as so often happens, as Barge Tiles expanded, Bob felt he needed a new computer system to give more information and control to streamline all the paperwork and help him run the
business better. He needed to maximise sales opportunities but watch margins.

At the end of March 2005 he ordered an Intact system from Ramtac Computers in Berkhamsted to computerise his quotations, invoices, purchase orders, stock management and ledgers, and most importantly, to give him instant up to date information to help make decisions.

"I picked Intact because it was Windows based, well featured and had a specifically developed module for Tile Merchants" Bob says, "and they knew what they were talking about. After all, they have over nine hundred companies using the software."

Ramtac installed a BT Broadband link, between Barge in Newchapel Road and the Gearings' house, to allow remote access so that Carole could manage the Sales, Purchase and Nominal Ledgers from home. The company went live on all aspects of the system on September 1st.

"We were new to a fully computerised system" Bob felt "and whilst it is easy to use and we had good training, we were keen not to put our staff under any pressure. Because of this, we are easing ourselves into all aspects of each program and are growing almost daily in what we do and use. The Postcode Search and Customer Relationship Management Module will both be of big help as we grow and will be incorporated soon."

Most of Barge's business comes from customer references and repeat sales, not surprising as they offer a vast selection of the finest quality ceramic tiles, mosaics and natural stone, sourced from around the world and offer a competent and caring customer service. The Intact system which now has some twenty tile company customers, both merchants and retailers will help them in supplying that service.

With instant access to complete histories of all sales and stock movements it will help to ensure that Barge carry the relevant products across all ranges in today's constantly
changing marketplace. Bob Gearing is capable, energetic and ambitious and is already looking to expand his company beyond the current twenty mile radius of Lingfield with more locations. He feels comfortable that he has a good partner in Ramtac Computers to help him grow Barge Tiles with control of all aspects of the business.

The catering equipment industry is both competitive and male dominated, which makes Anna McNamara's award as Barclays Local Woman in Business for 2004 even more impressive than if she worked in another more likely area for a woman entrepreneur.

Anna's brother Dominic started Caterquip in 1995 in Peterborough in order to sell second hand cookers refrigerators and boilers to industrial users. Anna who had a sales & marketing background joined him in 1998 and began to ship new equipment as well as used and later created Catering Equipment Solutions to do this.

Selling to general business, restaurants, golf clubs, leisure centres, hotels and retail outlets, she marketed her products through personal sales, her own direct sales people, trade shows, advertising and telesales; in the process she developed considerable personal expertise; she feels: - "If a customer wants to buy a box cheaply there are other suppliers available, however we supply technical strength with good advice and help as well as staying competitive - we are excellent partners"

Last year CES started selling Grease Guardian and in April 2005 were appointed Principal UK distributors for this environmentally friendly product by the Irish based developers. Grease Guardian is a grease separation system, which not only stops grease and food products from entering drainage systems but also produces a by-product that can be converted and used as bio-diesel. It is also EN 1825 certified and appears on the building regulations.

With this newly acquired product taking off & the existing product range sales going well, CES achieved a turnover of £1.5milion last year budgeted for £2.75 million in 2005. As so often happens, Anna's computer system, which was adequate when the business was small, became unable to cope with this dramatic growth & showed marked limitations. It was not integrated, there was too much re-entering and they were short of information & control especially on the sales side.

Anna & Joanne Lewis, her accounts and systems manager searched the market for sensibly priced computer software that was specifically designed and developed for the distribution market place; they felt that CES were ready for an integrated package that would assist their long-term growth.

Impressed by some 900 installations in Ireland in companies large and small they selected the Intact system which is sold and supported in the UK by Ramtac Computer Systems of Berkhamsted in Hertfordshire. They needed it to handle sales and purchase processing, stock management and sales, purchase and nominal ledgers; most importantly they wanted fingertip management information.

"The system is fully windows based & completely integrated" says Joanne, "It is also very easy to use which has helped with staff training". The order was placed in February 2005 and with Ramtac systems personnel transferring the old records electronically and loading major suppliers catalogues, CES went live on April 1st, a few weeks later.

"We had a few minor teething problems" says Anna, "but Ramtac support is excellent and they readily adapted the software to our needs.".  CES Sales personnel enter orders directly from telephone calls so as to use all the live & historic customer and product information available at point of sales, and they email quotes directly from the system. Anna is already getting the management information she needs both in the office and by dialling in with her laptop from home.

CES short-term plans include incorporating the Intact Service module to track and control service calls and maintenance service schedules. The determination and capability that Anna McNamara brings to running CES is shown here in only one aspect of her well balanced life style - when she signed the Ramtac computer order it was on her kitchen table at home with her two young children in attendance!

Location: Clondalkin, Dublin 22
Contact: David Marry
Telephone: 046-23961

Repak is an independent body responsible for the funding of recycling and recovery of packaging from group members. Changing from Pegasus for stronger financial reporting and tighter integration with their in-house databases, the company installed INTACT on their 10-user site in the beginning of 2006.

Location: Blake's Cross, Lusk, Co. Dublin
Contact: Liam McMahon
Telephone: 01-8437808

Using INTACT for almost four years, NAD operate a 15 PC network. The company relies on INTACT for stock control, pricing and detailed management accounts. More recently INTACT has developed a remote Sales Rep Access module for their business to allow their Reps place orders live on the system via a Terminal Services connection and an Ipaq Pocket PC.

Location: Graiguecullen, Carlow
Contact: Collette Buggy
Telephone: 059-9131847

Once using LSI from Integrity software, Doyle's Builder Providers changed to INTACT Software in 2004. Doyle's switched from LSI based on the better support services INTACT could provide them with, also with Doyle's rapidly expanding it was felt that LSI could no longer meet their specific requirements. Doyle's operate a 30 user network companywide. INTACT has since been successfully installed in Doyle's sister companies namely, Doyle's Wholesale, Co Kerry and Byrne and Dawson, Co Carlow.

Location: Ranelagh, Dublin
Contact: Barbara
Telephone: 01-8732510

Smallmans a longstanding provider of heating and plumbing supplies switched from Take 5 to INTACT in September last year. INTACT was their software of choice due to its intuitive point of sale functionality. INTACT was also installed in their sister company, Uppercross. Uppercross deal in the wholesale and distribution industry, the implementation
of INTACT in Uppercross was very smooth making the standardisation of INTACT across the group a very easy decision.

Location: Robinhood Industrial Estate, Dublin 22
Contact: Noel Larkin
Telephone: 01-4506800

INTACT replaced Pegasus as their Accounts system in 2002 and they now have a 10 PC system running on a Server 2000 network. INTACT has developed specific purchase order/invoice entry screens to eliminate a high level of duplication that was already occurring. INTACT has also upgraded The Delph Centre's showroom ordering.

Location: Balbriggan, Co Dublin
Contact: Seamus Ennis
Telephone: 077-62000

E.E.C Hardware is one of Ireland's leading Hardware stores. Upon opening their new store E.E.C made the decision to switch from their TAS package to INTACT Software. The decision was made based on INTACT's flexible electronic point of sales functionality. E.E.C have been using INTACT to successfully power their financial information across a 12 user network since 2005.

Location: North Wall Quay, Dublin
Contact: Andrew Crotty
Telephone: 01-8555200

Tile Style needed a software system that would provide an integrated solution in regard to areas such as Point of Sale, Stock Control, Serial Number Tracking and Management Accounts. The company currently has over 40 PC's connected on a Server 2000 Network and rely heavily on the information in their INTACT system to drive their business. This was INTACT's first Tile Distribution site.

Location: Tallaght, Dublin 24
Contact: Michael Devins
Telephone: 01-4047700 

Demesne Electrical were previously using a Ramdis system, however they needed a company that could tailor a package to their specific needs. Demesne required a system that would replicate what was currently in operation but also provide added functionality to take their business into the future. The company now has an 80 user system
connected across a Citirx network, with branches in Glasnevin, Cork and Dungannon.

Location: Northern Ireland
Contact: Michael Rooney
Telephone: 048-30250897

The Murdock group consists of a chain of Hardware stores across Northern Ireland and the UK. The company are in the process of rolling out INTACT across their entire operation. INTACT is installed in 13 large Builders suppliers of the Murdock Group, one of which will contains over 100 concurrent users.