60 seconds with Cumbria Mailing Services

CMS started in 1996 when a few rugby club friends started discussing a suggestion by current chairman, Tim Tucker, “over a round of bitter lemons”.

The very first mailing was completed on Tim and wife Heather’s kitchen table. Thence to a small unit in Penrith and after a few months a move into the much bigger unit the firm now occupies. Managing director Peter Hilton (front of pic) takes up the story. 

Where are you based? 

CMS is based in Penrith, Cumbria

How many staff do you have?

Seven

What does your firm do? 

Mainly personalisation, letter printing, inserts, data work, polywrapping, and envelope inserting

Which regions do you serve?

Predominantly northern England

Which markets do you serve? 

Anyone really who either posts things or wants things packaged-up

Who are your clients?

Data protection is always a hot topic for mailing houses so, if you don’t mind, I won’t name names

What’s your USP?

Our flexibility, accuracy and turnaround times. 

What’s your company’s motto?

Do the right thing (and do it right) 

What equipment do you run?

CMC polywrapping and envelope machines, Ideal and Morgana finishing kit, and laser and inkjet printers

What’s been your proudest achievement in the past few years?

Our ongoing ISO 14001 certification, productivity gains, hitting impossible deadlines... However, the lovely comments from customers thanking us for good service is probably the one thing that gives me the warmest feeling of satisfaction. 

Where do you see your business in five years’ time?

Still here doing something slightly different but recognisable

What’s your team’s favourite biscuit?

A bourbon is perfectly acceptable