History

It all began in 1958 when Guy Ernest Collis had the idea of selling reclaimed timber from his cottage in Chasetown. With the help of his sons Keith & Gordon, he built the business up and in doing so set the foundations of what is now known as G.E. Collis and Sons Ltd, otherwise known as Collis sheds.

After a successful five years of trading, Guy decided that it was time to expand and invested in a nearby plot (The Old Gasworks) on Queens Drive Industrial Estate. From here he began selling new timber and shortly afterwards built a retail shop where a variety of DIY and building supplies could be bought. The business grew rapidly over the years, so much so, that in 1996 a further investment was necessary to cope with the demand expressed by Collis' customers.

This expansion meant the business doubled in size, covering approximately two and a half acres of land and pulling in a turnover of over 2 million.

Collis Sheds Today

Steven Collis, Guy’s grandson, now the Managing Director, maintains a strong family tradition with the assistance of John Cantrill (General Manager). The business now employs 25 skilled staff, ranging from professional carpenters and joiners to qualified retail assistants.

It has a number of assets including a modern fleet of vehicles, sawmill facilities, a large retail outlet and a vast number of others stores and workshops, where portable buildings and other value added products are made. G. E. Collis and Sons Ltd. currently carry an extensive range of timbers, most of which are imported from Scandinavia, Russia and Baltic. It also stocks a variety of sheet materials, fencing products, aggreggates, UPVC products, glass and many other products as well as a large selection of hardware and tools for both the public and construction trade.

It also manufactures a number of portable buildings, ranging from the very small rabbit hutches to the large, semi industrial and agricultural structures. Some of these buildings can be viewed at the yard in Chasetown, which has a large display site. Collis' main focus is on quality and the standard of its products. It is because of this heritage and business outlook that Collis’s continue to serve the public to its utmost. G. E. Collis and Sons Ltd believe in providing the highest level of service to all their customers. Their long-serving staff are well known for their friendly and helpful attitude, always willing to offer assistance for any size problem.