A history of growth & excellence
What began as a modest stationery shop on Lightfoot-Boston Street has grown into one of Freetown's most recognised commercial institutions. Here is our story.
A Small Wooden structure shop with a Big Vision
In 1996, Malcolm Carew established Business Equipment and Services in a modest wooden structure on 26 Lightfoot-Boston Street, Freetown. What started as a small stationery and printing operation quickly gained a reputation for reliability and quality service in the heart of the city.
The early days were defined by grit and a commitment to serving customers with precision. The business offered stationery printing, large-scale photocopying, and desktop publishing, services that were in high demand across government offices, schools, and commercial enterprises at the time. Word spread fast: if you needed printing done right, BEAS was the place to go.
Growing into Office Equipment & Furniture
Through the late 1990s and into the early 2000s, BEAS steadily expanded its product range. The demand for office equipment was growing rapidly as Freetown's commercial sector developed, and Malcolm Carew saw the opportunity clearly. The business began stocking stationery items in bulk, then moved into large-scale office equipment — photocopiers, printers, shredders — supplying institutions that needed reliable, long-lasting equipment.
This era marked a defining pivot: from service-based printing to becoming a full product supplier. BEAS began building relationships with government ministries, NGOs, banks and private corporations — relationships that would form the backbone of the business for decades to come. By consistently delivering quality products on time and honouring every commitment, BEAS built a reputation that no advertising budget can buy.
Completion of the full BEAS building
By 2004, the original wooden structure had been replaced with a permanent, purpose-built commercial building at the same Lightfoot-Boston Street address. This was a monumental milestone — a physical testament to eight years of hard work, steady growth, and the trust of hundreds of loyal clients. The completed building gave BEAS the space to expand its product inventory, host walk-in customers, and operate with greater professionalism and scale.
The new building allowed BEAS to maintain a significantly larger stock of stationery, office equipment and supplies, and gave the team room to serve multiple clients simultaneously. It was no longer just a print shop — it was a commercial enterprise of substance.
Official opening of the Furniture showroom
In 2010, BEAS made its boldest move yet — the official launch of its dedicated furniture showroom. The showroom was fitted with an extensive display of office furniture: executive desks, workstations, conference tables, visitor chairs, swivel chairs, ergonomic seating, bookshelves, filing cabinets, steel safes, reception counters, sofas and more.
Customers could now walk in and experience the quality of the furniture first-hand — sit in the chairs, open the drawers, feel the materials — before placing an order. This hands-on approach to selling built an entirely new level of trust with clients who had previously had to order furniture sight unseen. The showroom became Freetown's go-to destination for professional office furnishing.
From single-desk home offices to full floor-fit-outs for multi-storey government buildings and NGO headquarters, BEAS became the complete solution for organisations equipping their spaces for productivity.
Taking BEAS Online — beas1996.com
Today, BEAS continues to grow. The launch of beas1996.com marks a new chapter — bringing the showroom to your screen. Customers anywhere in Sierra Leone can now browse the full range of available furniture, explore product details, and submit inquiries directly through the website. The BEAS team responds promptly with pricing, availability, and delivery information.
