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You are in : Company Information > About Rapid | | About Rapid | | |
With 50,000 products available for same day despatch, Rapid is among the UK’s leading distributors of electronic components, electrical products, tools and educational resources.
Leading brands, superior products
The extensive Rapid product range includes cables and connectors, integrated circuits, LEDs and optoelectronics, capacitors, resistors and discrete semiconductors, relays and switches, batteries, multimeters and test equipment, tools and a wide range of IT, audio-visual and office equipment.
The Rapid Education division offers a comprehensive range of curriculum-based projects and resources, with the emphasis on providing teachers with high quality, competitively priced and user-friendly materials in a wide range of subjects, from science to art and crafts.
Whether you are an electrical contractor or assembly manufacturer, a buyer at a primary school, secondary school or university, or hobbyist who uses electronic components, Rapid has a product for you.
We offer new products from world-leading electronics and education brands, such as Atmel, ST, Velleman, LEGO®, CML, Neutrik, Stanley, MK, Draper, Bosch, Duracell, Fluke, Kingbright, ABB, Camden, Thurlby Thandar and Berol.
Award-winning service
Paul Baker, Rapid’s Managing Director, is justifiably proud of the company’s achievements: ‘Rapid’s substantial growth has not altered the key focus of the business. We are committed to supporting the products we stock and the customers we serve.’
The quality of Rapid’s products and customer service is widely recognised. In 2007 Rapid won Supplier of the Year for companies with over £3million annual turnover at the Education Resources Awards.
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History
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Rapid Electronics was established in 1979 and began by servicing the public with a small range of electronic components (approximately 200 lines). The company traded from a converted barn at Eynsford in Kent. Advertising in the retail electronics press generated sales and a small single sheet ‘Catalogue’ was mailed to customers.
After two years Rapid started receiving regular orders from the education sector who expected to be invoiced and would pay within 30 days of date of invoice. Rapid was able to finance this credit facility to customers due to the relatively small number of customers requiring credit and the improved relationship with suppliers.
In the 1980s Rapid outgrew its original premises and moved to a small building on an industrial estate in Boxted, near Colchester, Essex. Increasing sales, particularly into the educational sector, brought computerisation of the business and a move to a larger building in 1985.
Once again an increase in stock holding and product range dictated the addition of a 3000 sq. feet floor within two years. In April 1989 Rapid moved the short distance from Boxted to an 18,000 sq. feet site on Severalls Industrial Estate, Colchester.
As turnover increased the need to relocate was again identified and in July 2000 Rapid moved to a new custom-designed distribution centre on Severalls Lane, Colchester, which has 35,000 sq. feet of warehousing and 10,000 sq. feet of offices. This site has excellent development potential, and will support a total warehouse area of over 100,000 sq. feet.
1999 saw the introduction of Rapid’s first full-colour catalogue. A website was launched in 2002, which two years later gave customers the opportunity to browse and buy products online. In 2006 the website was relaunched as rapidonline.com. In 2007 a new Trade Counter was opened with the capacity to stock 4,000 products.
Rapid is committed to supporting educational initiatives that give young people the chance to put their knowledge of science, engineering and electronics into practice. Rapid's sponsorship activity includes categories at Elektra 07 (the European Electronics Industry Awards) and the Young Engineer of the Year awards.
Rapid is also proud to be in partnership with the Toyota Technology Challenge – a fun, affordable and environmentally friendly competition aimed at secondary schools – and an official partner of the Jaguar Cars Maths in Motion scheme.
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Rapid Opening Hours
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Monday to Friday 8.00am-8.00pm
Saturday 9.00am-5.00pm
Sunday 10.00am-2.00pm
Fax us on 01206 751188 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Email our Sales Team 24 hours a day, seven days a week at sales@rapidelec.co.uk
Visit our Trade Counter:
Monday-Friday, between 7.30am and 6.00pm
Saturday, between 9.00am and 5.00pm
Sunday, between 10.00am and 2.00pm
Rapid Electronics Ltd
Severalls Lane,
Colchester,
Essex CO4 5JS.
Registered in England, address as above. Registered Number: 1509592
Please note that orders placed for Trade Counter collection should be placed before 5pm for same day collection, Monday to Friday. Orders placed after this time will be available for collection after 10am the following day. On Saturdays you will need to place your order before 4pm for same day collection, and on Sundays you will need to place your order before 1pm for same day collection.
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