The company grew over the next twenty years taking on premises at Atlantic Trading Estate in Barry in the first instance, followed by a move to Broad Street in Barry, and then, in 1989 to its current home at Unit 6 Ty Verlon Estate. Following the purchase of a major local competitor, Cardiff Office Supplies, in 1997 the business changed its name to what it is now known as, COS - the Complete Office Solution. Starting with sales of just paper 40 years ago, the business quickly grew to offer stationery and then in 1985 Celtic Printers was established back in its original Atlantic Trading Estate premises.

James Emery, eldest son of Peter and current managing director, joined the family business in 1989 straight from college. He says: “I've grown up with the business in reality. A week after passing my driving test at 17, I was handed the keys to a Mercedes van and driven once around the block by Dad, before being given a pile of delivery notes and told to go and make the deliveries, as a driver was off on holiday. “I have worked in the accounts department, the warehouse, on the vans, both prepared the artwork for the print jobs and run the print team, and, been customer facing in sales.”

Over the years, other Emery family members have joined the team. Matthew joined in 1997, straight out of college, and David joined in 2000, having managed an environmental research facility for NERC at the University of Southampton. Furniture sales and installation grew when Alan Davies joined the company in 1998 and COS now offers the full turn-key refurbishment package, holding many major contracts with blue-chip clients. In 2003, COS diversified into marketing and promotional products, with the formation of it’s sister-company The Pitch, and last year Natural Power Wales was added to the group, specialising in the supply and installation of renewable energy system. The diversification into the renewable energy arena with the establishment of Natural Power Wales was a move that had been coming for a number of years with a real focus on going ‘green’ and in 2007 COS was recognised for its efforts gaining a Green Dragon environmental award level 3.

James says: “As an office products company we understand the importance of keeping offices supplied with stationery and equipment. However this can often come at a cost to the environment, something we at COS are keen to minimise. “We are fully committed to managing our environmental responsibilities and trying to manage our impact.”

Charity work has always been at the heart of the company’s operation. COS has supported a number of local charities including Major Music, Right to Play, World at Play, Young Enterprise Wales and St David's Hospice Foundation. The company is also keen supporters of Welsh sport and its sponsorship includes Welsh rugby, Glamorgan Cricket Club and, from next year, Cardiff City and Cardiff Devils. At a more grass-roots level, COS sponsors Ento Aberaman Football Club in the Welsh First Division.

In celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, COS is hosting a gala dinner for its loyal staff, customers and suppliers. It is organising a special Christmas party for staff and has hosted a number of charity events this year including an Office Olympics and Canoe Challenge. In taking the business forward to the next forty years,

James says: “The ownership of the business changed on January 1st 2008, and David, Matthew and myself are now the majority shareholders. We are greatly ambitious and wish to take the group to a new level. Having started Natural Power Wales and The Pitch in recent years, we are keen to add to the business portfolio and are always open to the next idea for a new company to form part of The COS Group.

“We'd like to solidify our already strong friendships with our clients and introduce them to additional product areas wherever possible. We simply cannot meet enough Welsh business decision makers with a view to striking up mutually beneficial business relationships, and are passionate about the welsh business community doing business with each other - only this way, we believe, can we all sustain a healthy, growing, vibrant economy in Wales.

“We have set ourselves financial targets in terms of sales and profit for the component parts of the group, and the group as a whole, but, in simple terms, we want to be the very best at what we do in all areas.”