Remarkable growth which has transformed a stockbroker’s artistic hobby into a multi-million pound business has seen a Queen’s Award for Export land in northern Lincolnshire.
Wrendale Designs was started by Hannah Dale seven years ago when the owner of a local shop selling some of her original artwork suggested she put the designs onto greeting cards.
She has not looked back, with husband Jack joining the business, through which products are now sold across the world.
The couple employ more than 30 staff at their Brigg headquarters and more than 50 self-employed sales representatives ensure their products can be bought across Europe, the US, Australia, and a host of other countries.
“We feel very lucky that our products have been so well received overseas and we’re really proud to receive this award,” said Hannah.
“We had to show three years of exceptional export growth, as well as demonstrate a clear export strategy.”
Jack, who looks after the business side, said: “We realised quite quickly that there was demand for our collections overseas.
“We have a subsidiary in the States, Wrendale Designs Inc, which has enabled us to set up a bank account and take payments over there.”
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They are now looking at a presence in Holland, with a European operation seen as helping protect the business from any potential Brexit fallout.
“Funnily enough, we only really started exporting seriously to Europe after the 2016 referendum,” said Jack.
“We had been exporting to the States, Canada and Australia some time before that.
“We are delivering direct from our warehouse in Brigg to the likes of Germany and France. The pound has been weak since the Brexit referendum and this has helped offset postage costs.
“We have doubled sales to the European Union in the last year and it has really started to gain momentum.
“That’s why we took the decision to set up a warehouse in the Netherlands and we are presently working on getting the stock shipped and over there.
“We export to Switzerland but, with it being outside the EU, it does entail more paperwork.
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“It’s another reason for establishing the base in the Netherlands as we will be trading within the EU after Brexit.
“We want to make it as easy as possible for our customers to trade with us.”
Hannah grew up in Scawby and went to Caistor Grammar School, before reading Zoology at Cambridge.
She worked in London before returning to Lincolnshire in 2008 to marry Jack, a mechanical engineer, settling in Melton Ross.
Hannah now sits as head of a talented graphic design team and its designs can be found in garden centres and other retail outlets in the 海角视频 across a range of gifts and kitchenware.
In January, the enterprising couple, who have three children, are launching a range of watches, water bottles, satchels and bags.
They moved into their 10,000 sq ft Station Road warehouse in Brigg during 2015 and soon realised it would not be big enough.
“By the time another 9,000 sq ft was added a year later we had already outgrown it,” Jack said. “More warehouse space is something we are looking at again. We have had 30 to 40 per cent growth over the last three or four years and are constantly looking at how we can move the business forward still further.”
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Professional support praised
International growth and the award application has been supported by RNS Chartered Accountants,
Partner Alex Douglas has worked with the team, and congratulated the couple on their latest award.
“It’s a fantastic story of a business that has grown from basically nothing into a serious employer and exporter,” he said.
“It’s been fascinating to watch and a privilege to help Hannah and Jack.
“They have worked hard for their success and are constantly looking at ways to improve the business and the customer experience.
“They are an example and inspiration to others.”
Both have praised his support.
Hannah said: “Alex has been brilliant throughout. He’s supported us over the years and helped with the award by collating the extensive amount of data that was required to support the application.”
“Alex has helped us to establish our operations in both the US and Europe,” added Jack.