Company History and Awards

 
VOW’s lineage comes from a long and successful history in the office supply wholesaler industry.  With the beneficial growth generated through acquisitions and mergers, today VOW stands as one of largest Business Suppleis and Services partners in the UK and Ireland.

1852
John Heath established his stationery business delivering office products around the Birmingham area and eventually expanding to other parts of the country.

1969
Kingfield Press began business as a wholesale stationer in Sheffield
 
1976
Kingfield Press changed its name to Kingfield Wholesale Office Supplies and
added a further warehouse in Nottingham. 

Kingfield LogoKingfield was purchased by Kaye Office Supplies, a holding company owned by Sir Emmanuel Kaye and Family.  The company grew rapidly through the acquisitions of a number of regional wholesalers including Trafford Wholesale, County and Kimberley, Brian Tolley, Cotsworld and Duncan & Taylor.

1983
John Heath acquired Neville and Gladstone, another national wholesaler of office products, which had already acquired Pilot Stationers, Brady and Hunt and Beaumonts Furniture.  John Heath also adopted Neville and Gladstone’s own brand, Punchline.
 
1999
Kingfield’s sales were approaching £100 million per annum with their seven regional
warehouses.
Kingfield acquired John Heath creating Kingfield Heath.  
 
Kingfield Heath logo2000 - 2002
Kingfield Heath relocated to a new purpose built headquarters in Sheffield and began consolidation of their branches from seventeen sites to nine.  
 
£20 million investment in a new 11,000,000 cu. ft distribution center at Magna Park in Leicestershire.  The distribution center, known as the Arrow Distribution Centre, or ADC, is the most technologically advanced centre in the industry.
  
2004
Kingfield Heath successfully reengineered the business and developed a
sophisticated but highly efficient and therefore cost effective distribution network.
Kingfield Heath concluded a management buyout backed by Legal and General
ventures valued at £85 million.
 
2007
Electra Partners completed the acquisition of Kingfield Heath and ISA to form what was described as the UK and Ireland’s first super wholesaler of business supplies under the name Vasanta Group.  
 
The organisation split into two companies with the larger of the two becoming the wholesale business later renamed VOW, who combined the massive expertise and product ranges of both Kingfield Heath and ISA Wholesale to create a one-stop shop for office products and computer consumables.
 
2008
The combined wholesale business was renamed VOW.
 
The integration of the two former companies also included the investment of several
million pounds into increasing stock levels and the scale of joint operations in the UK
and Ireland, offering the widest range of computer consumables and the highest
service levels from a single source within the industry.
 
VOW invested £3million in the construction and commisioning of their state of the art
distribution centre in Ireland, IDC, to replace the existing regional warehouse.
 
2009
A refinancing deal led by Endless LLP was completed, followed by the centralisation
of the Sales and Service Centre and the beginning of the project to construct a large
scale, high tech distribution centre in the Normanton. 
 
2010
In January 2010, Adrian Butler was appointed the new Managing Director of VOW,
marking his 18th year in the industry which began at Neville and Gladstone in 1992. 
Following his appointment the sales and commercial teams and marketing
department were restructured.
 
VOW opened its third automated distribution centre in Normanton, known as the
Normanton Distribution Centre, or NDC.
 
VOW increased their presence within the trade press publications with a consistent
level of advertisements and editorial articles spread throughout several publications.
 
2011
In January 2011 VOW launched its new and unique furniture service, VOW Interiors. 
 
VOW launched it’s added value service program, VOW+, including services through
their exclusive partnership with the Business Performance Group. 
 
VOW successfully held its first annual VOW+ Partner Event in April, combining
informative business presentations with a fun and unique supplier exhibition. 
The event was shortlisted for Conference & Incentive Travel Magazine's 'Best Domestic Conference' category.  To see a video of the supplier exhibition, please click here.  
 
VOW’s Parent Company, Vasanta Group, introduced a new sales and marketing
structure with the appointment of Steve Haworth to the newly created role of Group
Sales and Marketing Director in June.
 
In November, VOW added the new Managed Print Services (MPS) to the exclusive VOW+ program in partnership with M2.
 
2012
 
Q Connect announces sponsorship of Rugby Super League team, the Huddersfield Giants, for 2012/13 season.
 
In February, VOW holds its second annual VOW+ Partner Event with a successful turnout doubling in size from the previous year.  The event again hosted, the now industry wide known supplier exhibition, the Interaction Zone.
 
VOW opens their 250 sq ft VOW Interiors Showroom and Meeting Facilities at their flagship distribution centre, Arrow, in Leicestershire.
 
In March, VOW secures partnership with Iron Mountain to offer their Secure Shredding service.
 
VOW adds a new VOW+ services in August; Water Coolers.
 
2013

Q Connect announces sponsorship of Rugby Super League team, the Huddersfield Giants, for 2013/14 season.

In February, VOW holds 3rd annual VOW+ Partner event with more than 315 attendees making it the largest and most successful yet.

In the first 2 quarters, VOW launches new VOW+ services; Contract Manager, e-Audit and A Distraction.

 

 
Awards
 
2004
BOSS Industry Award – Finalist – Catalogue of the Year
HP - Authorised Distributor 
 
2005
Integra – Partnership Award
Nemo – Partnership Award
HP - Authorised Distributor
 
2006
Integra – Partnership Award
United – Office Product Supplier of the Year
HP - Authorised Distributor 
 
2007
European Office Products Awards – Wholesaler/Distributor of the Year
HP - Authorised Distributor
 
2008
Praxis – Wholesaler/Distributor of the Year
HP - Authorised Distributor
 
2009
Office Club – Wholesaler/Distributor of the Year
HP - Authorised Distributor
 
2010
Integra – Wholesaler of the Year
HP - Authorised Distributor
 
2011
 Conference & Incentive Travel Magazine - VOW+ Partner Event shortlisted for 'Best Domestic Conference'
HP - Authorised Distributor 
 
2012
HP - Authorised Distributor
Integra - Wholesaler of the Year
 
2013
European Office Products Awards – European Wholesaler of the Year