A printing firm and stationery office supplier is celebrating half-a-century in business.

The family-run Singlewell Stationery and Print has spent the last 50 years in trade operating from its base in Singlewell Road, Gravesend.

It currently has 12 members of staff and offers a range of services to local firms and customers covering everything from wedding invites and office stationery to business pavement signs and roller banners.

The business has had to withstand some huge shake-ups to the industry during its five decade tenure, including most recently the uncertainty posed by Covid-19.

But managing director Simon Jones, who is among the second generation of family members to have worked at the small firm, remains in buoyant mood about its future.

The 53-year-old, who lives on Ascot Road, left school at 16 and started working in the print business first started by his dad, John in 1971.

"I have worked with most family during my time," he said. "My dad and I had our ups and downs but we worked together well."

Over the years his siblings have held different positions but Simon is now the last remaining family member at the firm.

Despite this the company boss believes it is the firm's family values and close rapport with a range of other local businesses which have allowed it to withstand much of the economic fallout of the last two decades.

"We still have that feeling of a small family run business," says Simon.

"I believe in trying to keep things on an even keel and I don't run people into the ground. That can be difficult in the print industry.

He adds: "We rely on repeat custom and my philosophy has always been to look after people."

In the early days Simon recalls how they would often play practical jokes on one another – and even on some unsuspecting customers – but operations and expectations are a lot more stringent today.

During his time the firm has overseen the introduction of the first modern computers – which it first purchased in 1987 – as well as the "hot, dirty and dangerous" days of setting ‘linotype’ from molten lead.

Afterwards it purchased its first machine used for CMYK printing – the modern day colour standard for professional printing.

Flash forward to the present day and some of the biggest industry disruptions have been external developments, most recently Covid-19.

"It was quite a change because the work turned off like a tap," explained Simon.

"Before then we had got a hard core of customers in the medical industry who still wanted work which was good for us and them that we were able to keep skeleton crews working in the factory round the back."

Thanks to some prudent financial planning and access to government grants the company has been able to stay afloat.

"We did get the standard government grants which was much appreciated and that helped us through," said Simon. "We put that in the wage pot and that helped."

To celebrate its milestone birthday, the store gathered its employees and posed for a photo next to its iconic shop front.

Looking ahead the print boss says the company has no dramatic plans to shake up the business as it looks to secure its future post-Covid.

He adds: "After the last couple of years if we can take it easy, we will."

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