Cleaning Hygiene Today Cleaning Hygiene Magazine
Wray Bros, a family-run business in the heart of Toxteth, Liverpool, is proudly celebrating its 40th anniversary. From a £3,000 Prince’s Trust (now King’s Trust) grant to a national leader in cleaning supplies and workwear, the company’s journey is a powerful story of resilience, innovation, and social impact rooted in community value.
From humble beginnings in 1985 Liverpool, brothers Graham and Mark Wray began selling reclaimed rags and wipes from Oxfam under the business name ‘Willy Wiper,’ before rebranding to Wray Bros.
Wray Bros has steadily expanded to meet the growing needs of its customers. What began as a small operation has evolved into a thriving business with a fully equipped 48,000sq foot warehouse, an in-house print room for custom branding and a state-of-the-art media studio complex.
Reflecting on the company’s journey, Mark Wray, Co-founder, said: “In 1985 we didn’t get off to the most auspicious start, in fact our limited resources and knowledge cast a doubt on whether we’d make it through the whole of 1986, but we persevered and became ignorant to failure. Now as we enter our 40th year, it seems the ignorance has paid off – what a ride.”
Graham Wray added:”We want to inspire others from similar backgrounds to see that resilience, hard work, and strategic support can build something lasting.”
