About us

SET Office Supplies have been trading for almost 37 years. We believe that we work harder than anyone else in the business to bring you the office supplies you need, as quickly as you need them, and at the cheapest possible price.

A brief history

SET Ltd was formed in May 1974 and was taken over by current Chairman Mr P.G. Amos in 1976. From humble beginnings in a small corner shop in Wyndham Arcade in Cardiff, selling calculators, typewriters and ribbons, SET group of companies is now one of the largest independent office supplies companies in the UK. We moved to our current Head Office, in the old Kardov flour buildings in Penarth Road Cardiff in 1988 and this is where we concentrate on our core business of supplying industry and commerce with not only office supplies but professional print and design from our on-site Print Department, office machines from SET Digital who are located on the ground floor and also office furniture which a sample of which is displayed in our showroom.

In 1982 SET opened a shop in Swansea High Street to expand its business in Wales. Once again the business consistently grew and this gave the company a sound base in West Wales with a shop opening in Haverfordwest shortly afterwards. After 25 years in the High Street in Swansea, SET moved, in 2007, to bigger and better purpose built premises in Garngoch Industrial Estate which provides a better environment for their customers and staff with on-site parking, better access from the M4 and includes a brand new furniture showroom. In 1994 after continually growing year on year, SET expanded its operations East by purchasing a local Bristol business, W A Ross Ltd. This company was originally founded in 1826, therefore SET decided to keep the original name, Ross Office Supplies. When purchased the turnover was £180,000 per annum and it has now grown to a turnover in excess of £4 million.

In 2002 we moved to a 26,000 sq ft warehouse and distribution centre in Llandough Trading Estate in Cardiff, this has allowed us to increase the stock levels significantly, helping our buying power to become even more competitive throughout the UK.

Last year, in 2010, SET Group of Companies bought Martin Luck Group in Plymouth and also acquired Brewers in Helston, Cornwall. This has given us a significant foothold along the M5 corridor and increased our buying power again so we can pass those significant savings onto our customers.

SET Group of Companies continues to grow and are now the largest independent office supplies company in the UK with an annual turnover in excess of £25 million, employing over 238 staff from the local workforces.