| Cheaper
paper and printing lead to a rise in paper packaging,
particularly in the food retail trade. One of the cheapest
form of advertising was paper bags and wrapping printed
with the grocers name.
By the mid 1870's, William also owned
several warehouses in Leeds and was already employing
six travelling salesman, one of whom was William Mart.
On 31 January 1877 William Roberts died, his eldest
son, John, was not yet sixteen. William Mart acted as
a principal manager of the firm.
In 1882, John Roberts came of age and
joined the partnership, which became known as Roberts,
Son & Mart.
The business was flourishing in 1888 the
partners opened a warehouse in Birmingham. In the same
year the firm, now described as paper merchants, lithographers,
printers and paper bag manufacturers, changed its name
to Roberts, Mart & Co and in 1890 the partners took
the decision to convert into a limited company. |