OBAS Group

The OBAS Group is a group based in Longridge in Lancashire which primarily serves the construction sector with a range of products and services. OBAS CEO is Norman Tenray is also President of the N&W Lancashire Chamber of Commerce and member of the North West Bank of England Advisory Committee Norman Tenray has mainly lived in Longridge since acquiring the OBAS Group in 2008.
History
The date of OBAS Group's incorporation is listed as 2008, however the brand had existed from around 2004, the brand-name was created from an acronym formed from the first letters of the phrase Our Blades Are Superior.
OBAS Group was formed in 2008 when serial entrepreneur Norman Tenray bought four failed companies: Express Plumbing and Safety Supplies trading as EPS, HWA UK Ltd trading as HWA and Impact Decor and Design Ltd trading as IDD from the receivers PKF as well as Slater Development This construction supplies business formed OBAS UK and has around 50 staff, including 25 sales staff( which also includes Health Care divisions and technical support services for the construction sector. The healthcare division of the OBAS Group supplies around 3,500 products to public and private healthcare sector. In October 2012 OBAS UK reported securing a £615,000 invoice finance facility.
OBAS UK sells tens of thousands of products to trade and DIY customers, both locally and nationwide, with ranges including construction supplies, workwear, PPE and safety gear.
In April 2014 OBAS announced that Simon Dalley had been appointed as the Group's Marketing Manager.
May 2014 saw the organisation open the company's first Trade Counter at their Longridge Headquarters to capitalise on the relatively low coverage of construction supplies businesses in the area. The company stated the new Trade Counter will be used by national contractors, independent tradesmen and DIY enthusiasts, whilst commenting that having a store front will enable them to engage in person with their customers (rather than their traditional model which involves telephone based account managers and field sales).
On his LinkedIn profile, Dalley mentions that although the business traditionally operates a "largely call-centre-centric offline model, selling tens of thousands of products to trade and DIY customers" the business is now "focussing on growing physical locations, field sales and web sales to strengthen the business and build in resilience."
In December 2014 OBAS announced 6 new jobs been created in the business and 5 were to be created at the start of 2016 with the assistance of Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking.
In April 2015 it was announced that OBAS had secured a six-figure loan for the continued development of their Longridge headquarters, investment in new stock and further development of the businesses overall online presence.
Press
OBAS Group executives often make comments for the press, especially on matters effecting the health sector, the construction industry and pressures facing the business community more generally.
Sponsorship
The OBAS Group has sponsored a number of charities and events including the leading North West business awards The BIBAs.
OBAS sponsored people involved in a midnight walk for the Preston-based Rosemere Cancer Foundation, which saw people walking from Chorley Hospital to Preston Hospital, with donations including clothing as well as printing on T-shirts.
The group has also made social contributions in the North West through CEO Norman Tenray's work as a fellow of The Philanthropy Fellowship.
OBAS has been supporting a Bolton Lads and Girls Club project known as Renov8 with the donation of building supplies including a new uPCV back door.
Awards
OBAS Group is a multi-award winning organisation with a wide range of awards which includes:
* BIBAs, Ecommerce Business of the Year 2011
* BIBAs, Leadership Team of the Year 2011
* NWL Chamber of Commerce, Business of the Year 2010
* BIBAs, Business of the Year 2010
* Downtown in Business, Business of the Year 2010
* NWL Chamber of Commerce, Most Promising New Business 2009

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