Pollards – a heritage of innovation [history]

We’ve been doing this for over 200 years, so you’re in safe hands! Some highlights from our long history:

1781 (just after the French Revolution and during the American War of Independence) - Thomas Pollard is believed to have first started work as a printer in Exeter.

Early 1800s – William Carss Pollard continued the family printing trade from a factory in 39/40 North Street, Exeter. Printers at the start of Victorian era were still very much hand-craftsmen, carefully creating whatever their clients requested – including stationery, promotional literature and books. Pollards' archive of early books is now within the Devon and Exeter Institution, itself founded in 1813.

Victorian era - the business grew substantially in what was a period of industrial and imperial growth for Britain. It was under the leadership of a second William Pollard from 1850. His death in 1885 left seven young children and the business was managed for them until they came of age. At the turn of the century, they each held one share in the company.

Early 20th century – Leonard and Herbert Pollard led the company. It outgrew the premises on North Street and, in 1919, moved to an impressive new factory at Bampfylde Street, Exeter.

The 1920s – the business developed strongly with investment in some of the most advanced printing technology of the time. Specialised products included high quality catalogues and for a period there were offices in London and Bradford as well as Exeter. In the 1930s the Great Depression subdued growth, but the company was able to maintain a relatively healthy trade.

The Second World War – on the 4th of May 1942 Pollard's printing factory was completely destroyed in the Exeter Blitz. The company’s insurers would not fully cover the claim and after the war the company had to be rebuilt largely from scratch.

1950s – after some uncertainties about leadership, the company was gradually developed by Michael Pollard (Herbert’s son). Resources were tight and the company searched for a niche to pull itself back to its pre-war strength.

Late 1960s – the country’s largest manufacturer of weighbridges, Avery's, was frustrated with the quality of tickets supplied for their machines. Michael Pollard seized the opportunity for the company and created a specialised production centre to focus on this market. The company gained exclusive supplier accreditation and remains the market leader in the supply of weighbridge tickets to this day.

In the 1980s the company established a unique partnership arrangement with its employees based on a collective shareholding held in trust. This is still reflected the culture of the company.

1990s – the company moved to to a new factory at Sowton, Exeter - close to the M5 motorway. In 1997 Andrew Pollard became Chairman. The company began to extend further the range of print services it offered. It progressively built a diverse customer base in the South West and beyond, based on the philosophy that: 'our job is to take problems away'.

New millennium – through investment in new technology, the company continued to develop its range of print capabilities to complement established specialisms. The company diversified further by erecting a new building beside its factory, thus providing high quality office accommodation for tenants under long-term lease arrangements.

Today, with Managing Director, Dennis Mason, we provide a complete range of print, design, web and fulfilment services to some of the UK’s best known private and public organisations. PollardsDirect is our market-leading on-line system for orders, stock control, design and marketing. It enables customers to streamline procurement and ensure quality control across their organisation in very cost-effective ways. The company is also environmentally aware and offers a range of services to help customers minimise carbon use. The company's business plan envisages continued development of communication services to customers in the decades to come.

For a more detailed history of Pollards, see: http://www.exetermemories.co.uk/EM/pollard.html