Managing director Russell Jones formed Celtic Electrical & Lighting Ltd. on The 1st of August 2002. Russell started in the electrical wholesale business after 4 years running his own contracting company and previous to that had 12 years as a British Coal electrician.
His first job in wholesaling was unusual in that very few people start at the level of sales representative with no background in the industry, especially with a major company like Newey & Eyre. He rapidly progressed to becoming a sales engineer for Bill Switchgear but found it didn’t provide the challenge he needed and so went back to wholesaling as a manager for Arron Electrical Supplies (this with a very limited knowledge of the business). After 5 years he felt that he had more to offer than was available to him in that post and moved to another national supplier Rexel Senate as manager of Cardiff. The results he achieved there led to promotion within 2 years, becoming area manager for South Wales and less than a year later again moved up and into the position of Regional Director for the South West and Wales. After a number of years in this position and changes within the structure at Senate Russell decided the time had come to start his own electrical supply business. It did not take long for him to realise that there was a need for a good, reliable wholesaler in the heart of the valleys and so CELL was born. He started with 1 employee Mark Hopkins who also has a vast knowledge of the industry and they opened in an 800sq. foot unit at Penyfan Ind. Est., Crumlin with no customers but great potential. Six months later he took another 800sq. foot unit and now a further 5 years down the line the business has over 200 account customers, branch manager Richard Smith and the 2 unpaid stalwarts his wife Kerrie and father-in-law Frank Knight. There has been major investment by Russell in stock, vehicles, machinery and his time in order to provide the best service available throughout the Valley’s and this service is offered 24 hours a day 7 days a week. He sees it as essential to remain within very close proximity of the units CELL currently occupy and the next step after finding larger premises and consolidating existing business will be to start trading on the internet. |
