RECESSION can mean disaster for some firms.

But for others it can help spur greater growth, as companies search out cheaper deals on the internet.

For NetGiant, an internet-based printing ink and toner supply company, it has meant spectacular growth as businesses seek to slash operating costs.

Set up by entrepreneur Gary Flynn in 2004 in Farnworth, NetGiant operates the CartridgeMonkey.com website which supplies ink cartridges to domestic consumers.

The success of that site led Mr Flynn to set up TonerGiant.co.uk which supplies businesses all over the country with toners and ink cartridges.

In fact the toner site now generates 75 per cent of the company’s revenue which increased from £300,000 in the first year to £4.6 million five years on.

Mr Flynn said: “TonerGiant.co.uk was amazingly successful on the back of CartridgeMonkey.com and turned over £1 million in its first year.

“In its second year it doubled to £2 million and then this year turnover will reach at least £3 million and the last six months have been spectacular — it’s been a very good year for us.”

This success is against a background of worries earlier in the recession when he gathered staff and told them he didn’t know what lay ahead.

But his worries were unfounded and the business has prospered: ”We had the meeting and I think everybody worked very hard and concentrated on providing good customer service and building good relationships with our business customers.”

Mr Flynn set up the company with a partner he subsequently bought out, in small premises off Egerton Street in Farnworth. Now he and wife Joanne run the business which, when they needed to expand, decided to move to modern offices, with room for expansion, at Gibfield Park in Atherton.

Last year the company grew by 35 per cent and hopes to achieve at least the same this year. He added: “I’m delighted with how the company is going but I see the success that the business has had over the last five years is down to the NetGiant team, not just me.”

One market Mr Flynn is thinking of expanding into is office supplies, including paper, pads, pens and the like: “It does seem like a logical move for the company but we are still looking into it.”