RS&P celebrates 75 years of publishing

It began with the publication of one trade title, The Buyer, in March 1933. Seven-and-a-half decades later, the family-owned business has moved beyond print to become a media provider across several platforms.

“Textbook” growth

Chairman Alan Ramsay describes the company's growth as “textbook”, attributing its success to several factors.

“We've focused on excellent product quality, professional sales and marketing, good distribution, the courage to venture into the world of digital communication and, most important of all, we have outstanding people who live their brands.”

He points out that RS&P's digital publishing division was the fastest growing in the company, following the launch 11 years ago of one of the first local websites, www.cartoday.com, which remains one of the most popular sites in South Africa. “We will increasingly embrace the multimedia opportunities presented by electronic technology, going forward,” he says.

The company began when, at the age of 72, Samuel Alexander Grant Ramsay launched The Buyer to serve the needs of the textile and fashion industry and trade. He was soon joined in the business by his son, Norton – father of Alan Ramsay.

After the war, AG Parker, head of a Manchester advertising agency that had been representing The Buyer in England, was invited to join the company and in 1945 Ramsay, Son & Parker, the name an amalgam of the three senior executives, was formed.

Stable has grown

Since then the stable has grown to include eight consumer titles – Car, Wiel, Getaway, Wegbreek, Wine, Compleat Golfer and Popular Mechanics – and one business-to-business publication, Hotel and Restaurant. The company added to its bouquet of motoring titles with the purchase in 2006 of a 50% shareholding in Leisure Wheels.

While Ramsay, Son & Parker continues to operate as a family-owned concern, a 30% shareholding was acquired by Caxton and CTP Printers in January 2006, adding to RS&P's printing and distribution opportunities. Today, the fourth generation of the family is actively involved in the thriving business, which employs more than 200 staff.