Origins
The company has its origins in a business
set up thirty years ago in Tonbridge, Kent by the 'Hooks Bookshops'
chain to handle their direct mail fulfilment. Eddington Hook Distribution
(as it was then called) grew into a substantial business supplying
set texts to the Open University student body. The Vale Road warehouse
was opened and Eddington Hook Distribution began offering its services
to small and medium-size book publishers who did not have the critical
mass necessary to justify their own distribution operation. Some
of our existing clients have been with us since those very early
days.
Combined Book Services
Eddington Hook Distribution and Combined Book Services were similar
businesses with adjoining warehouses. At the onset of the recession
it made sound economic sense to merge these two businesses and
run the "combined" book services out of a single warehouse
unit. To preserve the name Eddington Hook and its particular association
with the Open University, the new company took the name Combined
Book Services as it not only aptly described the "combining"
of the two businesses but enabled Eddington Hook to continue with
its OU supply business without changing its name. The merge proved
extremely successful but we quickly outgrew our warehouse capacity!
The move to Paddock Wood Distribution Centre (PWDC) in June 1998
was essential for the further development of the business.
Paddock Wood Distribution Centre
Combined Book Services today shares a large trading estate of
purpose built high-rise units with, amongst others, companies
such as Del Monte, Aid-Pack, Mack Multiples, Pinnacle Records
and Whirlpool, all large distributors in their respective fields.
Paddock Wood is close to both the M25 (Junction 5) and M20 (Junctions
2 & 4), and is only 50 minutes by train from Central London.
Computer Systems
The computer systems are run on Sweeten's AlphaMicro software
that has been developed to our own specification over a period
of some 20 years. It is extremely robust and offers the greatest
flexibility. The system also offers various specialist modules
such as the 'Direct Mail' module. This provides a "live database"
for marketing purposes of all previous purchasers, both by subject
and year of purchase. This can be used for specific promotions,
magazine offers, web advertising etc. (see also Management Reports)
Publishing Background
The directors of Combined Book Services come from a publishing
background which enables CBS to view distribution from a publisher's
perspective. Michael Forster (Chairman) is a successful publisher
in his own right having founded Psychology Press (now part of
the Taylor & Francis group).
Back to
top 
|
