When John Planck Limited managing director Tom joined his father’s company as a teenager, he was trying to fund his attempt for a career in football.

He played for Margate and had trials at Nottingham Forest, Millwall and Crystal Palace, while working a regular week at the family firm’s former base on Medway City Estate in Strood.

“I said he needed something to fall back on,” said founder John, who retired in 2009, aged 63, effectively handing over the business to his son.

“My memory of the conversation is different,” joked Tom. “You said ‘all the while you are living under my roof, you better have a job’.”

The company makes “knobs and knockers” – anything that goes on a door or window – and will mark its quarter of a century this month with a VIP gathering onboard HMS Gannet, next door to its headquarters in Chatham’s Historic Dockyard.

“I called the company that because my name was our biggest asset. I'm quite well known within the industry..." - John Planck, John Planck Ltd

”Its namesake John was the son of an ironmonger and worked alongside his father in his early years in London. When the company he was a director of decided to move its bosses to Manchester, he took redundancy and set up his own business.

“I called the company that because my name was our biggest asset,” said John, who lives in Newington with wife Annemarie. “I’m quite well known within the industry.

“At the time, I was a past chairman of the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers and was known to all the manufacturers and a lot of our competitors. It seemed sensible to capitalise on the name.”

It started up during a recession in 1991, which meant there was no shortage of skilled
labour, as larger companies were forced to make experienced staff redundant.

In its first month, the firm turned over £10,000 and in its first year managed £571,000 against a target of £450,000.

By its 10th anniversary it was turning over £2.8 million and last year it broke its record, with revenues of £3.25 million. It was also the companies most profitable year to date.

Its main clients are major building contractors in Kent, including Coombs, WW Martin, Jenner and Cardy. In 1996 it acquired a showroom in Hayward’s Place, London, which impressed many high-profile customers, including the Royal Opera House.

It gave the firm a £1 million contract as part of a restoration project in 1997 and 1998. The company displays awards it won for the work in its head office.

However, it closed the showroom in 2012 after its lease came up for renewal at an unaffordable price.

Tom, 39, who lives in Rainham with wife Becky and their three sons, said: “The way the world has gone, with people able to look up things online, having a showroom was a luxury. It did its job at the time but became redundant as technology advanced.”

Since 2011, the firm has been part of Monaghan Group, after the company bought John’s majority shareholding following his retirement. Yet it remains a true family business.

John’s eldest of four sons, Alex, also works there, while Tom jokes he is still working on his two other brothers Richard and John.

Tom gives a wry smile when asked if he would like his own boys to join.

“Of course, that would be a dream,” he said. “It would be nice to continue the family name in the company. Who knows? There’s a long time yet.”