3D Group is an independent, family run company that is not only doing well but expanding well beyond its original vision. Owner and company director David Sanderson had no idea of the rollercoaster ride ahead of him when he decided life as a refrigeration engineer was no longer for him at the age of 22.
1971
Aged 26, Dave began work at Woolworths as a key cutter in their Lister Gate branch in Nottingham.
1975
Dave and his work colleague Steve went into business together and opened their own cobblers and key cutters called S&D Services in West End Arcade, Nottingham.
1977
Dave and Steve open a second shop, Lox & Keys, in the Eagle Centre, Derby.
1979
Steve and Dave sell both premises Dave and his wife Debbie opened their first shoe repair and household key cutting shop in Mapperley, Nottingham called Sanderson Shoe Repairs.
1990
The recession forces the Sandersons to take their key cutting services to local car boot sales over the weekends in addition to running the shop. It is here that Dan, the Sandersons’ eldest son, learns how to cut keys.
1994
Dave and Debbie buy another shoe repair shop on Nottingham Road in Eastwood. Debbie introduces engraving and trophies to the list of services that the Eastwood shop offers, renaming the shop ‘Joblot’.
1998
Dan leaves school to join the family business, working in the shop cutting keys. After noticing an increase in the demand for replacement microchipped remote car keys, Dave invests in a machine to offer the service from the shop. This quickly leads to a key cutting machine being fitted to the boot of Dan’s car. Dan hits the road offering a mobile replacement car key service
2011
Dave invests in 3D Group further, purchasing warehouse premises in Nottingham, to house both 3D Group and the office staff as well as acting as a base for 3D Autokeys, the mobile auto locksmith arm of the company
2006
The Sandersons sell Eastwood, moving Joblot Trophies to the premises next door to 3D Shoe Repairs. By this time the mobile auto service has become increasingly popular. Dan recognises how difficult it is to buy good quality vehicle key parts at a good price. This frustration and an apparent gap in the market leads to the Sandersons taking matters into their own hands.
2012
The staff move in and the warehouse is filled with the 1000+ lines of wholesale stock.
2007
‘3D Group’, the auto locksmith wholesale business begins, operating from the shoe repair shop and supplying auto locksmiths with remotes, parts, machinery and tools worldwide. The company goes from strength to strength, employing more and more people as the business requires
2017
3D Group is enjoying incredible success in the auto locksmith wholesale market 2017 marks the 10 year anniversary of exclusively providing auto locksmith parts to the trade. The company has built a reputation for excellence and is proud of the relationship it has established with customers over the years.
