Maplin
Maplin was the brain child of two entrepreneurs called Roger Allen and Doug Simmonds. The couple decided to sell electrical goods and accessories online and in 1972 Maplin was formed. Success was almost immediate and three years later the first retail outlet was opened in Westcliff on Sea followed very closely by a second store in Londons Hammersmith area.
By the end of the decade Maplin was producing it own colour catalogue followed by the Maplin magazine called Electronics which was launched in 1981. In 1999 the Company had a fully interactive website incorporating a very user friendly ordering service which further pushed sales. The Company last year had an impressive turnover of twenty seven million pounds. To see their product range visit www.maplin.co.uk
