Marketing idea for manhole covers brings contract success

Dealing in drainage covers may not be the most glamorous of trades, but one enterprising Shropshire company has come up with a quirky idea to promote its business resulting in a major new contract.

R&B Ltd of Madeley in Telford, produces cast and ductile iron manhole and drainage covers, supplying most of the major builders merchants in the country, and recently exhibited at a large trade show in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates.

Sales manager James Russell commented: "We were invited to attend this trade show in the Middle East at very short notice and with the inherent weight of our products, decided against taking our heavy cast iron samples!"

We invited local company Promofix, based at the Enterprise Centre in Coalport, to come up with some promotional items to hand out to show visitors - but they went one better and came up with a quirky solution to showcase our wares in detail.

Young entrepreneur Kathryn Holloway designed and created some drinks coasters which are an exact miniature replica of our drainage covers, complete with our own unique button and bar pattern, with our contact details printed on each.

“At the show the coasters went like hot cakes and were all snapped up by potential customers and visitors alike on the very first day of the three day trade fair.

“On the back of the trade show we have now secured a major new contract to supply our drainage covers to the whole of the United Arab Emirates, which is absolutely brilliant news.

Kathryn added: It was quite a challenge to supply anything at all at such short notice, but very rewarding to know that the unique coasters, which have a soft texture and feel to them, fitted the bill perfectly and we are delighted that they may have played some small part in securing a prestigious contract for R&B Ltd.

Pictured are James Russell and Kathryn Holloway with the unique coasters and a life-size cover on which they are based.