Essential reading for retailers and suppliers in the home improvement market

FW Mason in administration

Published: 28 March 2011
Nottingham-based timber products manufacturer FW Mason entered administration on Friday after struggling with rising fuel costs and a lack of finance.
Andy Wood and Christopher White of The P&A Partnership in Sheffield were appointed joint administrators and confirmed they will carry on trading the business.

Mr Wood said: "There is a good core business and we believe that by continuing to trade we have the best chance of finding a buyer. The company has been hit by a number of factors, including rising fuel costs, lack of finance to modernise the business and loss of long-standing customers to the multiples."

FW Mason, founded in 1929 and based on a 12-acre site at Colwick, manufactures and distributes an extensive range of mouldings, cabinet doors and laminated pine, among other products.

The family business was a finalist at the recent Direct Diamond Supplier Awards at the Direct Company Suppliers Away Day on March 15.

Comments

Published prior to March 2014
By Faith
I found a book presented to shot FW Mason in 1930 on the occasion of his passing the London NCOS Exam Feb 1930. Live in US would like to mail to family if it is theirs.
Published prior to March 2014
By paul.normington@ntlworld.com
I DO hope that they still carry on trading as I have been with the GOOD firm for many many years,
The best of luck to you as well now
Published prior to March 2014
By Tony London
Never liked the firm, they closed London Manufacturing and Moulding Co.
Published prior to March 2014
By TON PARROTT
SHAME
Published prior to March 2014
By Rick miller
the company seems to be recovering from this blow well. some aspects of the buisness are still abit in the dark ages, such as the online ordering system. but the sales team and reps for the company have execellent product knowledge and are always a pleasure to speak to. i am sure that their expertise will help the buisness overcome this obsticle
Published prior to March 2014
By preseny employee
great news lets hope for a rosie future im sure with hard work we,ll be fine and look forward to working for the new owners just like to thank the administrators for keeping us running through these difficult times
Published prior to March 2014
By Owain Glyndwr
Even though I only worked a short time at Masons I have some life long memories of the place. I hope that the new buyer is fair and honest that's what the workers need. When I worked at Masons all those years ago there was very few Managers/Directors who talked to me being that I was the new kind in the factory. Okay Russell, Tim and Lloyd were okay but they were the guys who the management should have listend too. Thats why I left beacuse of the managerual staff were to arrogant and never listend to a word their loyal and hard working employees had to say. I hope the new buyer will be the opposite and make a better future for the employees of Masons .
Published prior to March 2014
By Kevin Jones
Have some great memories odf Masons. I'll miss Russell, Tim and Lloyd the most three great people with ingenious minds.
Published prior to March 2014
By Paul
Can't wait to see Richard Burbidge running the place.
Published prior to March 2014
By Tony Ford
New Buyer.
The New Buyer is Richard Burbidge of Oswestry, Shropshire. The best company in the UK.
Published prior to March 2014
By Richard Millar
I was a Sales Rep for 6 years in Scotland during the late 80s and early 90s and I've only just heard about Masons going into administration. I was very sad to hear the news and only a few months ago I was in a DIY shop near Reading whilst visiting family and after seeing his large stock of Mason Timber Products I had a chat with the owner about how much I enjoyed working for Masons all those years ago. It was clear that Masons was still a highly regarded company.

There is no doubt though that even back then the company needed to be streamlined and be more dynamic to progress, and I would often be at odds with the Directors during sales meetings. But never the less I had total respect for the Directors and management, especially John Brown in the Birtley depot who gave me my chance as a young and wet behind the ears salesman, and although I had to move on to further my career, I felt proud to have worked for Masons.

I am pleased to hear the company has been saved (even if it's by the old arch enemy!), and wish everyone associated with the company good luck in the future.
Published prior to March 2014
By EX - EMPLOYEE
Does any body know who the new buyer is ?
Published prior to March 2014
By Former Employee
I too would like to offer my best wishes to all of the Masons family and all of the loyal staff at Masons
Having worked for the company for more years then i care to remember, YES there have been mistakes made. Over the last 15 years or so there as been a nil recruitment policy at Masons and with no new blood coming in Masons have suffered. Many of the employees are long serving staff with many over 20 years loyal service, but a lot of them seem to think Masons owe them a living and are/were not repaired to go that extra mile to ensure the survival of the company and their own jobs. It's this dead wood that will be s**ting bricks when the new owners take over, because their days of doing as little as possible will be over, these people know who they are. I am sure the many hard working staff will be glad to see the back of them. The rumour is that there is some very strong offers for the company and it will carry on trading, if this true i hope that the many hard working staff who have put their heart and soles into the company are looked after and their future is secure.
Published prior to March 2014
By A Former Employee
I would like to offer my very best wishes to Mr David, Terry and Frank Mason and their Families and more importantly to the Staff at F. W Mason & Sons during this extremely difficult time.

Having worked for the company for many years I also saw many difficult decisions being implemented by the company, and whilst I may not have agreed with all of the policies imposed, I genuinely believe that it has enabled the company to continue trading over the past 10years.

During my Employment the Directors, Executive Managers / (some) Management and (some) Staff worked tirelessly to ensure that the company was successful, and regardless of whatever decisions were made the Directors were always there to try to explain to Employees the reasons as to why those policies had been implemented and more importantly always had such empathy for its staff.

I am amazed that some existing Employees have now used this opportunity to try and cause further embarrassment to the Mason family and Management on how the company has been run during these past years which has resulted in its current situation.

All I d say to them is that if the company was being run so badly by Directors and Management that didn t care, was badly managed, then why haven t they applied for alternative Employment during these past few years and left?

Because they know how cushy they ve had it for years, and that when a new broom is found they will simply sweep this dead-wood out!

Maybe then the company will be able to prosper!

I hope that whatever happens to the future of the company that these people can be at long last weeded out so that the company may prosper for those who have worked so hard to try and ensure its success.

It s just a shame that those people didn t leave / forced out years ago as perhaps things may have been different.


Published prior to March 2014
By Pauls. D.I.Y.
I DO HOPE that all will be ok for whoever takes the firm on,And that we won't need to order such a large quantity at a time, as I have said before, I think thats one of the maon reasons that the orders were not plenty, I had topay Pro-Fro-ma when I did my first orders with the company, so you know how long I have traded with them, ie: 40 Years,
Wishing you good luck for the future, Paul Normington Owner, Pauls D.I.Y. and Timber supplies,
Published prior to March 2014
By MARTYN BOUSFIELD
im an ex employee, i was a sales rep in the london area,the product and service masons offered was excellent.the main problem is there lack of flexiabilty.whoever takes over adresses this and im sure sucess would return.
Published prior to March 2014
By Mike George, Blackfriars Road, Salford
I would like to add my sadness at the news and hope a buyer is found to avoid job losses.
However I don't feel this is really a place to be rude about anyone who works/worked for Masons whether they be a member or staff or an outside onlooker.
I can't imagine its been easy for anyone at the company of late, and while if mistakes were made then you may in time be seen to have a valid point, anonymous sniping now will not change what is already done.
I might add that I have no personal connection with the company,
Good Luck Masons.
Published prior to March 2014
By fw mason employee
unfortunately the directors would not try new practices seemed to be in a time warp could not adjust to a changing market wouldnt try new ideas we tried to tell them for years but without success
now alot of good men a looking down the barrel such a shame
Published prior to March 2014
By fw mason employee
the company has been run like a joke for years,not one of the directors individually,or collectively had the decency to say thanks for all the hard years
people had worked for them,no handshake,no sorry,s just got in their cars and cleared off glad to see the back of the dinosaurs never to be forgiven
Published prior to March 2014
By employee
the company has been overstaffed and mismanaged for years- with arrogant and out of touch directors
Published prior to March 2014
By The problem that I had and several other shops
Paul's D.I.Y. and TIMBER SUPPLIES
208 High Street
Gorleston
Great Yarmouth
Norfolk,
NR 31 6 RR
Phone 01493 308541
Published prior to March 2014
By David Meager
What a shame!!
After many years they fail in this current difficult time.
A good company to deal with, honourable and upright. David Mason and his brothers must be distraught.

My thoughts are with them.

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