WITH SO MANY PRINT SHOPS OUT THERE, WHY CHOOSE US?

The Beginning: A Sudden Change

Back in 2019, Dillon, the CEO of the Roberts Group, was halfway through an agriculture course at a college in Caernarfon. However, in February 2020, the coronavirus pandemic hit. On February 20th, we were told to stay at home and cease all human contact. The instructions were simple but difficult to follow, especially for me as an agriculture student. Completing my course wasn’t something I could do over Zoom.

On weekends, I had a gardening side business in the local area, but with the new restrictions, that stopped too. The government didn’t furlough students with side businesses, so with only £20 in my pocket, I sold all my tools and equipment to adapt to the changing times.

The Idea: Turning a Challenge Into Opportunity

That night, I started brainstorming ways to create a business that could make use of the lockdown rules. With curbside pickup now allowed, I began thinking about how to take advantage of this.

Mother’s Day was just around the corner, so I needed to get a gift for my mother. I went into Tesco, only to realize that all the "non-essential" aisles were shut. Yes, the government had really implemented that restriction! But this sparked an idea.

I quickly left the store, jumped into my car, and started researching the industry. I spent so much time on it that I ended up with a parking ticket for overstaying the 3-hour limit!

The Startup: From £300 to First Sales

With just £300 to my name, I bought a pizza, an old printer, and a heat press from Facebook Marketplace for £250. I spent another £31 on a box of mugs—by 2025 standards, that same box would cost £54.

The next day, the box of mugs arrived, and I started experimenting with printing. I began selling on Facebook Marketplace. It was slow at first, but after some time, we were selling 36 mugs a week.

A Setback Turns Into a Breakthrough

By September 2020, the UK was dealing with a nationwide shortage of mugs, thanks to Brexit. After weeks of searching, we finally found a supplier—but they mistakenly sent us slate instead of mugs. Rather than letting this stop us, we decided to print on the slate.

Our first design was of Caernarfon Castle. To our surprise, we sold five pieces that day—amazing, considering we didn’t expect to sell any, being surrounded by so many locals already familiar with the castle.

Growth: Slate Takes Off

We eventually found a reliable local supplier for slate, and it started flying off the shelves. It didn’t even stay on the shelf—it was in and out that quickly.

With the profits, we saved up for a generator and a gazebo, so when restrictions eased in mid-2022, we could start trading at outdoor markets in Anglesey.

Securing Funding and Expanding

By showing continuous growth and steady sales, we were able to secure a loan from the bank for £40k to buy new printers and higher-quality equipment. This allowed us to enhance our product quality and remain competitive.

Where We Are Now: A Thriving Business

Fast forward to 2025, and the Roberts Group now employs eight staff members, supporting around 24 local jobs across North Wales. To date, we’ve made £1.2 million in revenue—proof of how far we’ve come since those early days of selling mugs.