Business Q&A: Andy Ormrod, Flying Colours

Apr 10, 2024

Photo of Andy Ormrod, founder and managing director of Flying Colours, the Knaresborough-based flag manufacturer.

This is the latest in a regular series of Business Q&A features published weekly.

This week, we spoke to Andy Ormrod, founder and managing director of Flying Colours in Knaresborough.

Tell us in fewer than 30 words what your firm does.

We are a flag manufacturer. We purchase flag fabric, we cut it, we sew it, we machine it and we turn it into glorious-looking flags.

I founded the company in 1994 when I was unemployed, and since 2008 we’ve held the Royal Warrant as flag manufacturer to the Queen. That’s now under review, but we should find out if we have the King’s Royal Warrant by this time next year.

What does it require to be successful in business?

You’ve got to be persistent. You’ve got to know your product, know how to sell your product, know how to get it to your customers on time – and you need the right people doing the right jobs.

You need a little bit of luck as well, but so long as you’re making a good product, you should be OK.

What drives you to do what you do every day?

Anyone who has their own business has a passion to get up every day and try and do what they do better, and I’m the same. It’s so exciting – you never know what’s around the corner.

What has been the toughest issue your company has had to deal with over the last 12 months?

I don’t think there’s been anything difficult in the last 12 months. Before that, Covid was difficult, but everyone struggled with that. Our lockdown lasted about two days, but then we had lots of orders come in, not least from the NHS. So I read and re-read the rules, and then brought a couple of people in, working in opposite corners of the room. Then the two-metre rule came in and we had four people. With more orders, it snowballed and became seven people and eventually we all came back to work, and it ended up working very well.

Which other local firms do you most admire and why?

We deal with a lot of great firms locally. Taylors of Harrogate is one I admire. They’re massive compared with us, but they’re a great business, and like us, they have the Royal Warrant.

Who are the most inspiring local leaders?

Years ago, I remember hearing about HACS, the Ripley-based engineering firm. Now you see their plant and orange logo everywhere. Their founder, Mark Smith, has done brilliantly well.

What could be done locally to boost business?

That’s a tricky one. Something we could all do – and that my wife Jules and I try to do – is support local businesses. The high street is up against a lot of online competition, and I take my hat off to those who manage to stay in business. We need to protect these businesses, and that means using them.

Best and worst things about running a business from Knaresborough?

The best thing is the town itself. A lot of people take it for granted, but it’s beautiful, and the river and castle attract a lot of people here. It’s a really nice place for folk to work.

There’s not a lot wrong with Knaresborough, so I suppose the worst thing is probably the potholes – they’re always a challenge.

What are your business plans for the future?

I’ve run this business for 30 years now and Jules and I are in our 60s, so we plan to retire on January 1, 2025.

Our sons, Chris, Tom and Jamie, already effectively run the business, and they’re very good at it so they’ll carry on. I’ve had some good offers for the company, but never really entertained them. We’ll stay local and carry on employing local people.

What do you like to do on your time off?

My time off is very busy! We live in Wath, and I’m captain of Wath and Melmerby Cricket Club, which is something I really enjoy. We also get involved with a lot of village stuff– I love living up there.

Best place to eat and drink locally?

The Farm Dairy in Knaresborough is the best place for sandwiches and also does fantastic cheeses.

For eating out, definitely our local pub in Wath, The George – fab food. Otherwise it’s into Ripon to Mario’s by the cathedral or Storehouse on North Street.