SOMETIMES it’s worth thinking INSIDE the box.

That is what happened to Kenneth Evans 30 years ago, when a cousin at a wedding reception in the Zetland Hotel at Saltburn mentioned his involvement in a company which made acid-free boxes for museums and art galleries, a company which had withdrawn from the market.

Kenneth, a retailer, asked to see a sample of one of these boxes, which protected stored watercolours from deteriorating – then took it to York City Art Gallery, which ordered a supply.

He took over surplus boxing machines from what was then Rowntree’s, now Nestlé, in York, and with other machines he acquired, joined the box-making sector as Zetland Boxes.

The company also began supplying the Henry Moore centre at Leeds and made special boxes to safely store the sketches of Victorian sculptor Hamo Thornycroft.

Later the machines were modified to provide bespoke packaging of all kinds for companies throughout York and North Yorkshire and beyond.

Now Kenneth, who has since sold his Ace News newsagent in Heworth to Costcutter, continues to manage his box business in Heworth Village, York, which clients have described as “the region’s best-kept secret”.

And not only is he being nominated as Business Personality Of The Year, but Zetland Boxes will be considered for the Small Business Of The Year title.

Kenneth said he now supplied large companies and small, with packing supplies as well as boxes. He said: “People moving house pop in for a few boxes, bubble wrap and a roll to tape. We aim our products at not only industry, offices and mail order, but also home eBayers who post all the time.”