118 trades aims to become number 3 player in uk directories business within 12 months

Daniel Corby, founder and CEO 118 Group, has announced plans to expand the 118 trades business across the UK as the business aims to become UK’s number 3 directory in measure of customer volume.

118 trades, was formed in 2005 and is now the 4th largest directory service in the UK, behind Yell, Thomson and BT and now 118 trades has set its sights on becoming the UK’s number 3 within the next 12 months.

Speaking about the announcement, Daniel Corby said “118 trades has grown incredibly quickly and has now grown net new customers to in excess of 40,000 within the 1st complete year of trading. With the opening of a new call centre in Chelmer Village from September, and the creation of 400 new jobs, 118 trades will grow through net new customer acquision and also the planned acquisition of other directory services providers throughout the coming year. People often ask me what has made 118 trades so successful and the answer is very simple. We offer so much for so little. Our unique selling points include freephone numbers, (with instant connection), a full on-line advert, a line listing in the directory and inclusion on a freephone directory enquiry service – so one simple fee takes in 4 services. So, a good product, coupled with a strong sales team makes for a successful business. We are proud of what we have achieved so far, but we still have a long way to go and we are ready to embark on this journey”

118 trades is completely confident that it can overtake the BT phonebook in terms of sales revenues and customer numbers within the next 12 months.

“The market is very receptive of our product” added Daniel Corby “and we are completely confident that we can deliver the success that we are looking for. 118 Group is now thinking and acting like a PLC, with the recent appointment of a Chairman, major funding lines agreed with a Bank and internal practices and procedures being applied ahead of an expected AIM float for 2007 / 2008. The proceeds of any AIM float would be used to acquire other businesses which could be merged into the 118 Group and may well include other regional directory offerings”

118 trades is based in Chelmsford with offices in Harlow and India. 118 trades is part of the wider 118 group which now has interests in telecoms, advertising and publishing. 118 Group announced the appointment of Richard Allan as Chairman in June and the acquisition of Car Auto in July 2006. The new call centre is due to open in September 2006.

Daniel Corby was previously Sales Director at Phones4u, the mobile phone retailer, part of the Caudwell Group; Richard Allan was previously CEO at Perry Group plc and has held a number of high profile roles including positions at Essex and Suffolk Water and Northumbrian Water plc. Bradley Chapman joined 118 Group as Commercial Director in June 2005 following a successful period at Zenith Conservatories and an MD role at Compass International.

www.118trades.com

Contact Information

Daniel Corby

ceo

118 group

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