XBM Limited1, one of the UK’s fastest growing sustainable office technology suppliers, announces the acquisition of Office Odyssey2, a Midlands based reseller of Epson single function and multifunction printers and digital document solutions across the UK and mainland Europe.
Following XBM’s rebranding in 2021, the business announced its plans to expand rapidly through acquisitions and new business, and this is the fifth acquisition in the last 2 years. The company took on its first European devices with the acquisition of iDoc Solutions in September 2022 and adding Office Odyssey to the XBM family of businesses will add a further 500 European devices and a total of over 2,300 to XBM’s existing MIF base, bringing it to over 7000 devices in the field.
This is an especially good match as XBM is Epson’s largest UK reseller and one of only two Epson Diamond Partners in the UK, an award based on a comprehensive set of criteria including our product focus, expertise, sales, and the high level of support we provide for our customers.
Office Odyssey set out to build a new kind of MPS service that places sustainability and social value at the heart of the business; to operate as a social enterprise and to only sell low energy, low waste technology. The business’s core mission is to increase employment for people diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder or with other barriers to work, while minimising the environmental impact of clients’ print operations.
As part of this social mission, Office Odyssey also provide free hardware and support to small charities, other social enterprises, and special needs schools. The aim is to help them to free up money that is spent on print so that it can be re-allocated to their vital projects and services. To date, the business has provided 1000s of hours of work and removed hundreds of tonnes of carbon dioxide from clients’ supply chains.
This is in keeping with XBM’s own social mission, providing office print equipment and services to charities and Not-for-Profits across the UK. One recent example is the Fountains Arts CIC3 in Scunthorpe which aims is to increase arts engagement in North Lincolnshire by utilising unused commercial spaces for projects, studios, and learning, providing public workshops and creative spaces for 11 artists.
Office Odyssey’s Paul Bellew will continue to push the business forward as Sales Director, which will operate as a separate unit within the XBM family of businesses. Commenting on the Acquisition, Paul stated that, “When we started looking for a partner who could grasp both our mission to provide meaningful work for those excluded by Autism or other barriers, whilst providing a wide range of clients with technology to help minimise their environmental impact, XBM stood out as the obvious choice.
“As they are Epson’s Number One UK reseller, they already have the deep understanding of the benefits of Epson’s Heat-Free print technology4 and are actively engaged with a number of charities and community groups. We look forward to growing the business together with Richard and his team.”
For XBM, Managing Director, Richard Tayor welcomed Paul and his team into the XBM family of businesses and said, “With his clear and unique vision, Paul has created an exceptional social enterprise. I am excited to be able to work with him and continue developing the vision and providing support to accelerate the business’s development further. As Epson resellers and supporters of charities and community organisations, XBM and our management team are excited to partner with Paul and his team.”
- https://www.xbmltd.com/
- https://www.office-odyssey.co.uk/
- https://www.xbmltd.com/xbm-supplies-fountain-arts-cic/
- https://www.xbmltd.com/products/xbm-printers-mfps-photocopiers/epson-heat-free-print-technology/
