Marvel Bookbinding has been sold to Opus Group, but that appears to be the only change for the 39-year-old business.
The business changed hands on Friday 16 May, with Wayne Eastaugh and his son Richard both remaining as directors of the company under Opus Group ownership.
“It was very important to Opus that from the last day of us owning the business to the first day that they owned the business, nothing has changed, and it is business as usual,” Wayne said.
“From Marvel’s perspective it is business as usual as we have no plans on going anywhere – we are 100 per cent in. We want the business to thrive, which it will, and we will still be directors of the company. I am 67, and this gives me an opportunity to wind back in a slow manner,” he said.
“The benefit of this new arrangement is that we can service our customers to a higher level than we could before. We will have more resources and more staff within the group as well as back-end support with departments such as HR and accounts and that takes the pressure off us from a managerial point of view allowing us to focus on the core aspects of the business.
“Another benefit is that Opus will become a client of Marvel as well. If they need work completed, they book in a job and raise a ticket as we will be operating as a separate business.
“Our customers also stand to benefit from the new ownership as there could be opportunities from a group purchasing perspective as they may be able to access our stronger buying power.”
According to Wayne, the deal came about following an approach from Opus Group executive director, Richard Celarc.
“Richard got the ball rolling and made the initial approach – if it wasn’t for his persistence and his ability to paint a picture of how the deal would work and benefit us as well as the industry, it wouldn’t have happened. Richard is a bookbinder by trade and his great passion in life is books. It is easy to deal with someone who has the same passion.
“Another reason why the deal works is because Opus Group does not play in the commercial print market, and they don’t compete with any of our customers. This is a great thing and one of the big reasons why we did the deal. Our customers have supported us for 39 years, so it was important that we did a deal with the right business.”
Richard Eastaugh will remain with the business as general manager and understands the importance of the business to his father.
“Dad has four kids – myself, my two sisters and the fourth one is Marvel. The business was started in 1986, and I am pleased to confirm that every one of our 45 full time staff has moved across under the new ownership – operating from the same premises and the same machinery. It is our aim to continue delivering the same services for the same valued customers.
“Transitions normally have numerous hurdles, but this has been very smooth and
seamless. In reality, we have just had to let our customers know that there is a new owner,” Richard said.
“Opus wants to gain access to our experience, and we are working with them – I think it will be a good marriage. There were initially a few worried faces, but the good news is the business is literally the way it was before.
“We also know there is capacity in our business, and we understand that the bottleneck for many printers is the bindery. We pride ourselves on employing good staff that love their job and love coming to work every day and take pride in their work.”
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