Who we are

1970

• Antone is established and moves into Brook House in Syston, Leicester. This becomes the Head Office for the next 32 years.

1974

• Name officially changed to Antone Displays Ltd, previously known as Displays Ltd.

1977

• Frank Haigh, founder of Key Displays, retires, passing over the control of the business to his son, Andy Haigh.

1980

• Antone works in Harrods and Harvey Nichols for the first time.

1981

• Paul Ransom buys the company borrowing significantly to make the acquisition. He begins to develop the business’s core characters of reliability and quality.

1982

• Construction commences at Key House for the purpose-built factory that Antone now resides in.

1983

• Key House, Wanstead Road opens, with the shop floor used for a party.

1986

• Antone acquires the plant, equipment and staff of James & Beeby and integrates the business into Syston site within 12 months.

1987

• A brief merger followed by a rapid demerger with an aluminium systems company, Exporama. The relationship introduced Antone to the cosmetics and department store sector.

1988

• Antone executes first roll-out project for Yves Saint Laurent, quickly resulting in business from Estée Lauder Group, Lancôme, Debenhams and many other cosmetic houses.

1989

• Antone acquires M R Bright, manufactures of nursery furniture.

1992

• Antone exports increasing amount of work throughout the world. Both manufactured equipment and project management expertise travel to Japan, America, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Europe and Asia.
• Tony Wren, retired Finance Director, joins the company.

1995

• 1% of the UK population (approximately 600,000 people) gain internet access.

1999

• Antone purchases Key Displays, specialists in producing equipment for the publishing and textile industry. Most significant acquisition to date, introducing vac-forming and a superior environment for production.
• Natasha Masters, Account Manager, joins the company.

2000

• We set up on our own in-house design facility in Market Harborough.

2001

• Antone completes the first of a number of standalone shop-fit projects throughout the UK.

2002

• Antone wins Leicestershire Business investment award.
• Scott Walker, Originator, returns to Antone from Jamaica.

2003

• Company enjoys marking average annual growth of 11% for last 14 years. A new record!

2004

• To increase efficiencies, Antone re-structures to put all production under one roof, Key House. Part of Syston premises sold whilst keeping storage facility in Cross Street.

2005

• Colin Parker, Managing Director, climbs to Everest base camp.

2006

• Record number of projects delivered throughout the world, including project for Gieves & Hawkes in Leeds, Liverpool, Dublin, Kingston and Dubai, and Chanel in South Africa.

2007

• Antone take delivery of a new fleet of commercial vehicles which will provide improved service and efficiency for customers.
• Michelle Nelson settles into her position as Antone Buyer.

2008

• Antone purchases a second factory, Site 2, close to the main Key House premises.

2009

• During recession, Antone records the busiest December in its history.

2010

• Antone completed a number of new-concept stores for the electrical retailer, Comet. The demanding schedule sees over 50 stores visited.
• Antone invests in a state-of-the-art spray facility. The sealed environment allows speed-drying and hardening of high-quality finishes.
• Antone receives an industry award from POPAI for the imaging table project for Comet.

2011

• Management team is restructured and developed – Janette Bunting is appointed new Sales Director and Mark Ransom takes the role of Chairman.
• Our strong relationship with De Montfort University in Leicester continues, encouraging the development of students by exposure to the realities of a commercial design and manufacturing environment.
• Antone raises £2,000 for Diabetes and Prostate Cancer Research by holding lots of fundraising events.

2012

• The Olympics comes to the UK.
• Estimator, Michelle Nelson, passes her practical driving test and is made road-legal.
• As part of the ongoing collaboration with Cranfield University, Antone act as industrial sponsor for a Masters in Design Project.

2013

• Phil Corless, Production General Manager, retires after 27 years of service.
•  We design and install the first LED fragrance site in Blackburn for Debenhams.
• Janette Bunting, Sales Director, undertakes a gruelling 200-mile adventure across England, walking from St Bees Head, across the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors to reach Robin Hoods Bay.
• During the quieter periods, we offer our services to a number of local charities, hospices, schools and local institutions. We are particularly proud of our RSPCA Certificate of Appreciation following the supply of office furniture and various manufactured items to the Woodside Animal Centre.

2014

• Antone is proud to announce that it is now an approved Altius vendor.
• Mark Ransom, Chairman, completes a 100-mile ‘Century Challenge’ along with 300 other participants. The 20-man team, ‘Dawdling Domestiques’, raises over £10,000 towards a cancer charity.
• Working for Alfred Dunhill, Antone unloads a lorry close to Buckingham Palace.

2015

• Rita Ogden, Financial Controller, retires.
• Antone holds a Mary Berry-style Bake Off to raise money for Comic Relief.

2016

• Antone announces the completion of an exterior lighting refurbishment project to our Leicester factory. Not only is this a significant saving in costs, but means reduced maintenance for many years.
• Leicester City Football Club are crowned Champions.
• Keth visits Chernobyl and spends three days in the military exclusion zone, visits the nuclear plant, the Duga Radar and the abandoned town of Pripyat.

2017

• We complete our first-ever Mappin & Webb store in Glasgow.
• The Sales Office girls enjoy a long weekend in Marbella, partying and drinking in the sunshine.
• Antone won the Travis Perkins Direct Sub-Contractor of the year award for working with Wickes.

2018

• The Antone team travel to Paris and Italy to install various sites for Alfred Dunhill (pop-up and permanent) in Galeries Lafayette, as well as a new-concept design in Serravalle.
• We toast the retirement of highly-skilled joiner, Gary Spiers, following a lengthy career of 35 years.

2019

• We embraced a speedy and complex roll-out for Ole Henriksen, who launched in the UK exclusively within Boots.
• The Sales Office girls escaped to Marbella.
• Antone worked with Shiseido UK, with a wide variety of brands including Laura Mercier, NARS and Shiseido.
• Kurt Tiisler Joined the Drawing Office. Kurt has been with Antone since 2017, working on the shop floor.

2020

• Antone turns 50!
• Covid19 hit the UK and the rest of the world. The UK was put into lockdown in March 2020 and social restrictions.
• Paul Stevenson was appointed the role of Production Manager.
• Jayke Bown joined Antone on the shop floor.
• Richard Hammond, Estimating Manager, retired after just over 25 years of service at Antone.

2021

• Jim Agnew retired after 27 years of service with Antone on the shop floor.
• Suzanne Smith completed 25 years of service at Antone.

2022

• Jay Patel, Cost Accountant, retired after joining Antone in 1999.
• We are pleased to announce that Paul Stevenson has been promoted to Production Director.
• Alex Howe has been promoted to Foreman.
• We raised £480 on our Charity Bake Off Day.
• We are proud to announce the completion of our first roll out for Britax Römer.