Barker Group - Back from the Brink

In this very uncertain economic climate, it is interesting for anyone owning or operating a business to see how other companies in their market or region are performing, good or bad.

With this in mind I thought I would comment, over a number of weeks, on how we are finding the current conditions, the problems and challenges we are facing and our general outlook and opinion of the future for Barker Group.

I will explain our development in the last few years, the troubles we experienced following a disastrous event that nearly caused the business to fold. How we staved off disaster and got back to profit. The good and the very bad decisions that I made during our recovery and how, using what I’ve learnt from the troubled last few years, we plan to grow profits over the next few years.

I think it is important to explain the developments of Barker Group in the last few years. If you are interested, this blog chronicles the history of the company and how I entered the family business in 1990. I bought the company in 2000 and spent the following five years building our network of agents throughout central Southern England and Greater London. Our turnover grew from £1M to £2.4M. Profitability increased accordingly and we greatly reduced our borrowing. We were extremely healthy, everything looked good but then disaster struck one September afternoon in 2005. 

Please visit us over the next few weeks to read more.

Matthew Barker

Read more
Fire in our Dorset Depot

Managing a Rural Business

Despite being Bournemouth based with most of its branches in the local conurbation, Barker Group generates 60% of their revenue from rural communities. “Probably 80% of our operation is in the town but it is from the country that we get the largest part of our turnover” say’s Managing Director Matthew Barker, “Our Laundry Collection & Delivery service is widely used throughout Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Surrey. It is in the country where the real wealth of the nation resides.”

Barker Group operates towards 30 routes every week delivering to nearly 2000 clients. A newly installed internet based tracker system ensures that each vehicle is maximised. Fuel wastage can spell disaster on a fleet covering approximately 500,000 miles a year. But the biggest advantage of the tracker system will soon be realised when Barker Group launch their internet based dry cleaning collection & delivery service across the South of England. “We are now in a position to direct our nearest vehicle to a client request on demand if required” continues Matthew, “Convenience is the most important factor in this busy age and this is even more critical in rural areas.”

One of the biggest drawbacks of operating in the country, however, is the weather. It may only be once or twice a year and for a brief period in the South but snow is the scourge of delivery services. This last January was the worst for many years and much of the country ground to a halt. Barker Group operated in some of the most inaccessible lanes and drives in the heart of the countryside. “We had one van stuck in a clients drive for two days this year. The customer received their laundry though and we managed to continue as much of the rest of the rounds with other vehicles but there were obviously a few we could not serve” explains transport Manager Miles Robbins. “The tracker system would have helped us keep tabs on the worst affected areas but we didn’t have it in January. Fortunately, these conditions are rare, I can’t remember the last time we couldn’t get a van to a customer and hopefully it won’t happen again for a long time.”

Much of the countryside depends on collection & delivery services and Barker Group sees much of its future growth coming from the countryside. The company intends to continue its growth in rural areas of Southern England and the new tracker system will ensure that the business continues to operate viably. Bournemouth based Barker Group is one of the largest independent Laundry and Dry Cleaning Company’s in the country.

Dry Cleaning at the Barker Group

Our dry cleaning operatives ensure, by thorough examination, that every mark and blemish that can be removed has been removed. Then through the application of the craftsman's art, each item is finished and pressed.

With generations of experience and expertise, as well as using state of the art technology, our Dry Cleaning Service (across the counties of Southern England) ensures that all garments are dry cleaned to perfection - from a suit or curtain to a very special garment such as a wedding dress.

When your cleaning is returned to you it will look as good as new, presented to you in packaging designed to protect your garment from the elements. Blending 21st century technology with the 19th century artisan's skill has made Barker's quality a benchmark of the Dry Cleaning industry.

Win £50 of Dry Cleaning Vouchers Here

Congratulations to August/September winner of £50 of dry cleaning vouchers - Alan Adair of Extra Dimension.

Welcome to our third monthly special give-away of £50 of dry cleaning vouchers. Please 'click to enter' at the bottom of the page and press send in your email server. You will automatically be entered for our draw on 30th November 2010.
All vouchers must be used within 2 months and are applicable for any of our stores. Why not use them to try out our delivery and collection service and see how this will give you more free time. Minimum order for delivery is £12 per collection.

Click here to enter 

Barker Group Newsletter August 2010