Dundee-based Rembrand Timber will shortly open its 11th depot in Scotland and is planning to establish a presence in England by 2006, according to its owner George Low.
The company is an importer and distributor of timber, sheet materials and joinery products to house builders, timber frame manufacturers and joiners. It has an annual turnover of more than £20m and operates 10 depots from Elgin in the north to Selkirk in the south of Scotland. A new depot at Oban is scheduled to open before the end of the year and a facility on the west side of Glasgow is planned for 2005.
Potential sites in the north of England are already being assessed because “we feel we have products that the English market is looking for,” said Mr Low, who mentioned in particular triple-glazed windows and the company’s range of Spanish-made doors. “We feel we could give a really good, fast service – we put a great priority on having stock available.”
Mr Low co-founded Rembrand Timber along with Ron Brand in 1982 and, until recently, held a 51% share in the company. However, he has recently bought out Mr Brand’s 49% stake in a share buy-back scheme supported by a funding package from the Clydesdale Bank. Mr Low’s other timber-related business interests include worktop and laminated materials specialist Rembrand Special Timber Products and Rembrand Doorsets, both of which are based in Dundee.
