Gleave Celebrate 175 years in business!
Gleave, a family operated company since its formation in 1833, chose Manchester Town Hall (built in 1887), as the venue to hold their birthday celebrations due to the buildings’ strong northern heritage and rich history which Gleave can relate to.
The founder, Joseph Gleave set up the business in 1833 initially trading as Wooden Plane Manufacturers and Dealers of Tools and Sheffield Cutlery. Gleave’s workshop & a separate Retail and Wholesale premises were both located in Manchester.
Established before Manchester even gained city status in the 19th century, Gleave has shared the highs and lows of this industrial and developing environment. .
As the son of the original founder had no son next in line, the business was passed onto his cousin, John Shaw. In 1980, 6 generations on, John Shaw (the second) joined the company and is the present Managing Director;
“Gleave’s longevity is due to sheer determination and our ability in adapting to an ever changing market place and conditions out of our control. Over 175 years we have had to diversify our product range and look for new and emerging opportunities, we’ve survived two depressions and have delivered industrial supplies on a worldwide basis.” explains John,
“Our celebratory event was a momentous occasion which we shared with our valued customers and suppliers. For a company to survive 175 years is astounding, to put it into perspective we are older than the telegraph (1837), the telephone (1876) and the light bulb (1879).”
BBC’s security correspondent Frank Gardner OBE, who survived being shot 6 times by Al Qaeda terrorists in 2004, provided an inspirational after dinner speech on his life changing experience in the Middle East. Comedian, John Moloney ended the evening with a stand up routine leaving the audience in high spirits.
The company which is based on Chester Road, Stretford, have added British Gas, British Telecom, National Grid and the Ministry of Defence to its impressive client list. Today Gleave employs over 70 people, and still works hard adapting to market forces. Developing strong links with a wide variety of manufacturers to provide customers with a diverse range of tools, consumables, safely and hygiene products and site equipment.
So what does the future hold for Gleave?
“We hope the next 175 years are as prosperous as the last. We are determined and extremely focused on our business strategies and our integrity to deliver quality products competitively as well as an enjoyable experience. We are extremely proud of our strong heritage.”
