North Yorkshire farmer Chris Booth, who moved away from pigs to pens, has continued the growth of his on-line graphics business with a record year and a 60 per cent hike in sales that will see turnover top £500,000 this year.

His Knaresborough-based company supplies specialist graphic materials from markers to technical pens, portfolios to spray booths, and sales have been growing steadily since he withdrew from the family pig and arable farming business in favour of the internet venture in 1998.

Chris manages the business with fellow director Paul Hawkridge, and the company's corporate customer list now includes the BBC, Hallmark Cards Plc, McCain Foods, JCB and Jaeger.

He said: "Operating via the net gives us a significant edge over traditional high street retailers and established trade competition. As more and more companies look to reduce costs, we are well-positioned to offer them an affordable alternative source for brand name products.

"People are still wary of using the internet and with our hands-on approach to running the business, we can still give people that essential personal service."

The company, based in former farm buildings with off-site warehousing, sells its products to businesses, schools and colleges as well as amateur designers and students.

With turnover anticipated to top the £500,000 mark for the first time this year the company is investing heavily in a new website (graphicsdirect.co.uk), which Chris hopes will cement its position as one of the leading on-line suppliers in the graphics industry.

Its success vindicates the wisdom of selling the family's 200-strong sow herd in 1998 after years of tough trading.

He said: "While the decision to move away from farming was a hard one, I have no regrets and would encourage any farmer struggling with falling farm revenues to look at other options, however far removed from their farming background, to make a living."

Updated: 09:43 Tuesday, March 23, 2004