John Reddigton began his professional life as training accountant. It wasn’t long, however, before he realised that his personality wasn’t well suited to the accountancy profession. A straight talking northerner, with a passion for business and of 1970s rock music, John describes himself, as a people’s person. Perhaps it isn’t surprising that he forged his career in sales and has built around himself strong sales teams which were instrumental to the success of his companies, firstly Alphason and now Big Red Sales.

Ray's long career in the white goods industry began some thirty years ago at Merloni. After ten years with the company he joined what was Philips Major Appliances, which in 1989 merged with Whirlpool. At the time Philips was planning to focus on brown goods while Whirlpool was looking for a European foothold, and after three years of dual branding a decision was taken to go with a sole Whirlpool brand. Over this period Ray was involved in a variety of sales and marketing activities supporting the Whirlpool brand.

When on 21 November 2008, Bridisco trading as BDC Independent went into administration, three of its directors - Jeff Moody, Ray Taylor and Steve Gallagher - prepared a management buyout of the company confident in its inherent strengths and in its long-established relationship with its customers - electrical independents.