Multinational engineering plastics company Dotmar Holdings has acquired leading Sydney-based sign and display market supplier Graphic Art Mart, in a deal effective 18 December.
Dotmar is a division of Metal Manufactures Limited and part a worldwide ‘Plastics Family’ group of businesses that includes Laird Plastics USA, Europoint UK and EM Plastics in Canada. Graphic Art Mart will continue to run as a standalone business within the group and will be headed by existing managing director Mousa Elsarky. “I’m delighted to welcome Graphic Art Mart, its employees, customers and suppliers to our organisation," said Kevin Stainer, executive GM, Dotmar Holdings.
Long time former Graphic Art Mart owner and director Mark Tailby, who is retiring from the industry, told Print21 it was the right time to move on.
“From a family perspective, it was the right time and the right opportunity and we’re absolutely happy with the deal," he said. "We’re proud to have been part of Graphic Art Mart for more than 40 years and have worked with great people over that time to build an industry-leading brand." Tailby owned the company with his brother Glen and parents Peter and Pamela.
“We didn’t have to sell because the business is growing and performing very well but the family chose Dotmar because it would allow Graphic Art Mart to stay as it is and continue to evolve and grow. I’m retiring from the business but I’ll be available to assist Dotmar and our managing director Mousa Elsarky, who has done a fantastic job over the past three years, through the transition period."
Tailby, who turns 57 next year, says it’s a great opportunity to enjoy other things in life. “My daughter Elissa has just given us a grandson, Oscar, and my only plan right now is to be spending a lot of time with Oscar." Tailby will also leave his position as vice-president of suppliers organisation Visual Connections.
“The industry has been incredibly good to us and it will be sad to leave and especially sad to lose contact with a lot of friends,” he said. “We’re very proud of what we’ve done and all our suppliers are very happy with Dotmar because it’s a cash-rich and asset-rich company that’s backed by an extensive network. Transisitioning a long held family business so that it’s a win-win situation for everyone, including staff, suppliers and customers, is a great outcome and we’re very happy with the result. It means we can look people in the eye and say we’ve done the very best for everyone concerned."
Tailby says he will now be leaving the printing industry. “I’m very grateful for my time in the signage industry but it is not my intention to resurface. I may like to get back into business in another industry sometime in the future but I’m not sure exactly where.”
Graphic Art Mart has serviced the sign and display market in Australia for more than 40 years, supplying leading industry brands such as Avery Dennison, Arlon, Roland DG, Aslan, Chemica, Mimaki, and Sihl. The company is based in North Rocks, Sydney, NSW, with branches in Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia and the Northern Territory.