Dedicated employee awarded directorship after 22 years of service

Ownership Associates Press releases
B2B PR photography, Patricia Foy, Ownership Associates.

A COMMITTED employee at a family owned business has become company director following the firm’s transition to employee ownership.

Patricia Foy started as a sales assistant with Dazzle & Inkspot Ltd in 1999. After two decades of dedicated service, she has now been awarded a directorship by the current owners following their decision to transfer ownership of the business to its nine employees.

Dazzle & Inkspot Ltd, renowned for its officially licensed fancy dress products, toys, games and recreational merchandise, has secured the long-term futures of Patricia and its other eight employees by transitioning to the succession model.

Transitioning from sales assistant to retail manager in 2001, and then to head of online retail in 2016. Patricia has largely headed up Dazzle & Inkspot’s move to online sales where the company currently sells products through the world’s largest online marketplaces, such as Amazon and eBay.

Patricia, 47, originally from Coatbridge, now lives in Bellshill with her partner who she met while they both worked at Dazzle & Inkspot in 1999.

Discussing her directorship, Patricia said: “I was absolutely shocked when Martin told me I was going to become director, but it’s a great achievement. It’s so nice to be recognised for my hard work and a privilege to be entrusted to take over a business which has been in the same family for over 50 years.

“I started as a sales assistant in Dazzle & Inkspot’s stationery department 22 years ago, and worked my way up to become retail manager, then head of online retail five years ago. Up until now I thought I’d come as far as I was going to go.

“Over the last year, I had already taken on a lot of additional responsibility as we progressed the online sales element of the business, this is the next step up.”

Prior to working at Dazzle & Inkspot, Patricia worked for Glasgow-based stationery company, C.F Nash. Patricia made the move after her boss from C.F Nash left to manage Inkspot (the craft and printing side of Dazzle & Inkspot), and invited her for an interview.

Patricia added: “I’ve had lots of lovely memories over the years, but one that really stands out to me was when we first turned on our online marketplace on a Friday night, and were so delighted to come in on the Monday morning to 30 orders. Little did we know that within a few months we would be receiving at least 10 times this over a typical weekend.

“I also remember Henrik Larsson stopped by one day; we had to close the shop due to the number of people he attracted!

“We’ve gone from a wee shop in Hamilton to shipping products all over the world through some of the biggest online outlets including Amazon and Ebay.”

The Hamilton-based firm recently made the move to employee ownership when the Super family sold their shares to an  Employee Owned Trust.

Martin Super said: “Employee ownership was the right decision for us for a variety of reasons, but being able to appoint Patricia as director is certainly one of the main ones.

The family business is incredibly precious to us and we wanted it left in capable hands. Patricia has largely overseen our transition to online sales over the last few years and her direction and drive have been key in helping Dazzle & Inkspot Ltd continue to thrive.

I have every faith that she will do a great job as director.”

Carole Leslie of Ownership Associates supported Dazzle & Inkspot in their move to employee ownership.

Carole said: “With the employee ownership succession in place,  Patricia’s promotion is a step towards leadership succession as the family directors look to the future. 

“Few businesses give proper consideration to succession planning and the  Super family have demonstrated remarkable vision in identifying talent within the business, and making this promotion.

“Patricia has proved she is more than up to the role. I have no doubts she will make it her own and succeed in every way.”

The Employee Ownership Trust was introduced in the 2014 Finance Act to encourage business owners to consider a sale to employees as a feasible succession solution.

For more information on Ownership Associates, please visit: https://ownershipassociates.co.uk/ For more information on Dazzle & Inkspot, please visit: https://www.dazzlefancydress.co.uk/

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