Wendy Sinfield seizes the Main chance with first ever export order

Date published: 14/03/2006

Main Ltd began life as Main Welding Company in 1942 as a welding and fabrication shop. Mainway Engineering was a subsidiary for a number of years before it became a limited company and began building bowsers (small tanks for diesel water or aviation fuel). The companies progressed until last year the owner decided to sell due to ill health, and as Wendy Sinfield had worked there for 18 years, he asked her did she want to buy it!
 
Although Wendy professed to love the company and her job as Sales and Marketing Manager, she was a divorcee who had lived alone for 4 years and didn't see how she would possibly be able to afford it
 
However, with the help and support of solicitor Peter Taylor of AST Hampsons and accountants RPG she finally did the deal in August 2005.
 
The previous owner had not had the inclination to push the company forward, but Wendy is keen to do so and is pulling out all the stops in advertising and promotion; this includes starting to export and Main has just sold their first export order to Dubai.
 
Main has recently signed a new five year agreement with one of the major plant hire companies in the UK - The Gap Group - as their sole supplier and hold their products in house in their own fleet colours.

Speaking of the company she bought Wendy said: "Although we deal with big plant and construction companies from Lands End to John O'Groats, we still very much value all our loyal customers from Rochdale who still come to us for welding and fabrication work, and we would never put them aside to concentrate solely on the bowsers. We are loyal to our customers and in turn they are loyal to us.
 
"Our turnover this year is already up 6% and I am so thrilled. It is predominately a mans world, however, I never feel out of place, although sometimes I am out of my depth when customers talk football!

"There are times when I realise that women in business are still vastly outnumbered by men. I went to Lunch at Old Trafford with my bank manager and out of 31 tables of 8 people there were only 3 other women besides myself!
 
"I love my business. We do everything in house - from buying the steel to rolling the steel all the way to spray painting the bowser prior to delivery. My staff are wonderful and talented and I feel very blessed."