From a small group of experts serving local timber merchants with one forklift and a couple of vans, to a nationwide delivery service with a team of over 250 staff, 45 vehicles, 38 forklifts, operating out of four sites totalling approximately 260,000 square feet, Lawcris has seen significant growth in the past 40 years.
Lawcris began in 1982 in the city of Wakefield. Noticing a gap in the market for a quick panel delivery service, CEO Chris Hopton and MD Simon Hall founded Lawcris Panel Products. The company rapidly expanded, growing from strength to strength, and in 1996 made the big move to Leeds where it has established an enviable reputation as one of the largest independent panel product suppliers in the UK market.
Not only that, the precision and accuracy within Lawcris’ additional CNC manufacturing division has provided and continues to deliver customers with a crucial service, offering an extension to their own production capacity.
“The landscape has dramatically changed since we started out in 1982,” says Simon Hall, MD. “Our intention was to become a strong delivery partner for timber merchants in plywood, MDF and chipboard. Back then, we would be picking in the morning and in the afternoon, out on the road delivering. Excuse the pun when I say that we really did go the extra mile to make sure our customers got what they wanted, when they wanted it.
“That is how our reputation grew, people would ring us, knowing that we would find a way to deliver goods to them when they needed them. It was very fast paced and we were 100% service orientated.
“As we grew bigger, so did our portfolio of products. Melamines, laminates, worktops, edging, veneers, acrylics, the list goes on. Today, we have not slowed down and our service is still one of the best out there.”
To celebrate its 40th anniversary, Lawcris has lined up a series of exciting events, including a celebrity charity football match in June with live music afterwards – appropriately named, “LawcrisFest” – which will see the whole workplace invited to celebrate the milestone.
Lawcris is also excited to be working with its charity partner, St Gemma’s Hospice, to achieve “40 things for St Gemma’s”. Fundraising, volunteering and raising awareness for this vital Leeds-based charity through a number of inspiring initiatives. It is set to be a wonderful year of celebration.
The last 40 years have been incredible for Lawcris, with the next 40 promising to be just as exciting.
