The Irish Times - Tuesday, March 13, 2012

SUZANNE LYNCH

FUTURE PROOFING:A Roscommon company founded during the last recession has gone from strength to strength and is now one of the biggest employers in the county

LIKE MANY of the best business ideas, P&G cards had its genesis in a recession. Run by the Naughton family, and now one of the biggest employers in Co Roscommon, it was founded in the 1980s.

Founder Pauline Naughton was working as a nurse but, following cutbacks in the health service, she began helping out in a newsagents run by her sister. It was here that she spotted a business opening. I had always loved greeting cards, and could see they were a strong seller. I began to ask where these greeting cards came from and realised there was an opening for a wholesaler in Ireland, she says.

P&G cards was set up in 1988, from a small warehouse on the family farm in Athleague, with the help of a 2,000 loan from AIB. The company began importing cards from Britain and bought a van for distribution. One of its first contracts was with the local supermarket and the company was soon supplying 100 small shops along the western seaboard.

A major break was securing a listing with Musgraves in the early 1990s. Musgraves were the up-and-coming multiple in Ireland, says Pauline. Getting a contract was a huge boost for us. Following the contract, PG implemented a number of changes, including a computerised distribution system, and extended its existing facility at Athleague. The company also took on its first employee, a trainee from Fs, who still works there.

A business course with Roscommon Enterprise Board followed. I had come from a non-business background, and had no specific experience or training in business, so the course was hugely beneficial, explains Pauline.

The company also received business advice on scaling and soon signed a contract with BWG, the owners of Spar and Mace.

Over the ensuing years, Paulines two daughters, Aisling and Michelle, joined the business. Michelle, who has a degree in marketing and French, set about finding new business for PG, eventually securing a contract with Dunnes Stores, where PG is now the premium card supplier.

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Success was on the cards for business idea