Anglia Components is a UK-based distributor of electronic components, offering a broad range of products. The company serves a variety of industries, providing technical support, inventory management, and tailored supply chain solutions. Anglia has built a reputation for its customer-centric approach, combining traditional telesales with online services to meet the diverse needs of its customers.
“Anglia is special because we care. It’s as simple – or as complex – as that. We care about the service we offer, which is why we employ trained staff who can help customers all the way through a project lifecycle. It is also why we hold a large, available inventory. And it is also the reason we do not hold competing franchises – we like to commit to a leading brand and work with the manufacturer to give customers the best experience. We also like to innovate – for example, by extending our Anglia Live service to cover the EU as well as the UK. Or by our introduction of a 4.5 day working week – we want our staff to be energised when they come to work. Recently, we have also committed to sustainability across all aspects of our business – from environmentally-friendly packaging to responsible business practices…it all makes a difference. Anglia truly understands and believes in high service, unlike other distributors, where the customer experience is best described as ‘self-service’,’” Steve Rawlins, CEO, Anglia Components.
“Our mission is to be the best distributor to work with by exceeding what our competitors offer and making our services more customer-oriented. We aim to fulfil our customers’ needs, whether through scheduled orders, stock purchases, online transactions, or direct interaction. We’ve evolved from a traditional telesales organisation to a hybrid model, providing both online and personalised services to cater to all customer preferences,” David Pearson, Technical Director, Anglia Components.
The history
Anglia Components was founded in 1972 by Bill Ingram, initially focusing on selling spares to TV repair shops and similar businesses. By the mid-1970s, the company shifted towards supplying components to manufacturers rather than just repair services.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Anglia realised the need to source its own products instead of acting as a reseller, which led Ingram to travel to Asia in search of high-quality factories. This move allowed Anglia to produce goods under its own brands, such as Eurohm resistors and Nover capacitors, which still exist today, albeit as a smaller part of the business.
By the mid-1990s, the company had reached a point where it needed to expand beyond its existing operations. This led to the decision to enter into franchise agreements, beginning in 1996 with Murata and followed by STMicroelectronics the next year – two relationships that continue to be significant for the company. Over the following years, Anglia continued to build its portfolio of franchises. Now, it has over 130 franchises.
In 2022, Anglia celebrated its 50th anniversary. Along with reflecting on its history, the company focused on enhancing employee benefits, such as introducing a half-day on Fridays and improved health schemes. These changes were part of Anglia’s strategy to remain an attractive employer, particularly in the competitive post-COVID employment market, as it looks forward to its next 50 years in business.
“Our biggest milestone has been reaching 50 years as a privately held organisation. This independence is crucial because it allows us to steer the company based on our own values without outside investors influencing our decisions. Steve [Rawlins], the owner, reinvests everything back into the business, enabling us to make long-term decisions,” notes David Pearson, Technical Director, Anglia Components.
In 2023, Anglia opened an expanded £2 million distribution and operations centre in Wisbech. The major investment has allowed Anglia to expand into an adjoining building, increasing the floor area from 43,000 to 70,000 sq. ft. The new facility expands the overall inventory storage space by 40%.
“We have scaled up our distribution centre facility to allow us to continue to increase our inventory levels as our business expands. Our track record over the last couple of years has meant that customers are trusting us more than ever and look on us as a safe pair of hands. This is a reputation that we are committed to preserving as we grow further,” said Steve Rawlins, CEO, Anglia Components.
A strong strategy for growth
During the pandemic, Anglia saw a significant increase in its online sales. With many engineers and purchasing departments working from home, online buying became more prevalent, which raised the profile of the company’s online offerings.
Anglia Live is the online platform of Anglia Components, offering a comprehensive e-commerce solution for purchasing electronic components. It provides customers with real-time access to Anglia’s inventory, allowing them to search for products, check availability, view detailed specifications, and place orders directly online.
The platform is designed to be user-friendly, catering to the needs of engineers and procurement professionals who require quick and efficient access to components. Anglia Live also integrates various support tools, such as technical documentation and design resources, making it a valuable resource for those involved in product design and development. Additionally, it supports flexible ordering options, including scheduled orders and immediate stock purchases.
“This shift [from the pandemic] allowed us to enhance our online tools, such as introducing BOM Plus, our bill of materials management tool. With BOM Plus, customers can upload their materials list and receive a full customised analysis, including cross-references, within minutes – all done automatically online,” comments Pearson.
At the end of 2023, the company brought its Anglia Live platform to Europe following a major investment in its logistics infrastructure and website. It offers a standard one or two-day service from its UK distribution centre, DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) shipped by FedEx through its Paris hub, with invoicing available in multiple currencies.
Karen Ward, Commercial Director, Anglia Components said: “We have identified there is a gap in the market for a Europe-wide digital distributor offering a competitive service from locally held inventory. Invited by major franchises to bring our service to Europe, it was an opportunity we simply could not say no to.”
Orders placed before 17:00 (CET) Monday to Thursday and 12:30 (CET) on Friday will be despatched same day, there is no minimum order value and orders over €50/$60 will have free DDP delivery, orders below these values attract a €20/$30 service charge.
Inventive inventory
Anglia approaches inventory management quite differently from many other distributors.
“While larger companies often see inventory as a negative due to shareholder pressure to maintain high stock turnover and maximise dividends, we view it as a positive asset,” said Pearson.
Unlike others who aim for a stock turn of six or eight, Anglia has traditionally operated with a low stock turn, typically below three. It holds four to six months’ worth of inventory at any given time, a practice rooted in its history. In the early 1980s, Anglia imported products from the Far East in large quantities, often more than immediate demand required, to optimise shipping efficiency. As a privately owned company, it has continued this approach.
Its inventory strategy is supported by advanced, in-house developed software that leverages 40 to 50 years of purchasing history. This intelligent system analyses purchasing patterns, optimises order quantities, and adapts to customer demand trends. It also has built in flexibility to account for anticipated growth.
“We see inventory as a strategic advantage, and in recent years, we’ve made changes to enhance sustainability in our shipping processes,” notes Pearson.
For example, Anglia considers manufacturers’ minimum pack sizes and looks at ways to increase order quantities to fit full containers or pallets, reducing the number of shipments and the company’s global footprint.
It’s also switched to using its own recyclable, plain brown packaging cartons. There are 12 standard sizes and, when an order is picked, the system calculates the appropriate box size needed and even labels it with a barcode to confirm it’s the correct choice. To enhance the customer experience, the boxes are plain so they can be reused, and feature paper tape, which is precisely measured by a machine to reduce waste. Different colours of tape are also used to help customers quickly identify the type of order, whether it’s from Anglia Live, vendor-managed inventory, or a standard order.
The magic of Anglia Unicorn
“We often encounter companies with great ideas but no electronics experience,” notes Pearson. “They need help with everything from product design to mass production. Whether it’s getting from the drawing board to a prototype or supporting them throughout the entire product lifecycle, we prefer to be a partner on their journey, helping them evolve and improve their products as they grow.”
So, in 2021, Anglia announced the launch of Anglia Unicorn – a dedicated division to help startups. Anglia Unicorn offers engineering resources, evaluation hardware, and software tools along with samples from Anglia’s technology partners, all free of charge.
“The support offered by Anglia Unicorn has been carefully curated to help technology startups and university spin-outs all the way through to venture capitalists, investors, and equity funds who are working with technology companies that need help getting to the next level,” said John Bowman, Chief Technology Officer at Anglia Components.
The key differentiator
Procurement professionals and buyers today have a vast array of options, much like how you can buy almost anything from Amazon. However, people still visit specialist shops despite potentially higher prices. Why? Because of the service.
“At Anglia, we pride ourselves on being a service-oriented organisation. Whether it’s logistics, sales, or technical support, our focus is on delivering exactly what our customers need,” said Pearson.
Anglia also recognises that these needs are constantly evolving, so it makes it a priority to adapt and change to meet them.
“What our customers require today might be different in 12 months, and we strive to evolve accordingly,” concludes Pearson.
This article originally appeared in the September issue of Procurement Pro.
