Barnsley-based manufacturer Aspire Furniture is predicting a 50% increase in turnover thanks to support from the Department for International Trade (DIT).
The business builds and sells mattresses and frames to stockists including Tesco, Next, Dunelm and Wayfair, and exports around 100 beds each week.
Launched in 2013 as a distributor from the MD’s kitchen table, the business quickly expanded. In 2017, it took over a 15,000 sqft factory after making the decision to start manufacturing its own products.
Last year, the business began to work with its international trade adviser from DIT, when a German distributor contacted the company requesting samples of its products.
MD Paul Murphy saw that exporting was the next step, but was unsure of the logistics of sending his products overseas.
Trading abroad at the end of 2018, the business quickly secured deals in Germany worth £6000 a month and is planning to expand to the Middle East and double its current sales to the Republic of Ireland.
Thanks to its export success, the company is looking to add new members of staff and expects its turnover to increase by +50% this year to £6m.
Paul says: “When we were approached by overseas distributors requesting samples, we turned to DIT for advice as we didn’t know how we could send something as big as a bed to another country. With DIT’s help we identified the best method of transportation, which meant we could work with new overseas customers and grow the business.
“Our website has also had a big part to play. Our customers check us out there first before approaching us, and we all know first impressions count. We’re also now making our site user friendly for the different overseas markets we operate in - updating for different languages and currencies.
“Exporting can seem daunting when you start, but to have DIT there for support and advice has been invaluable. DIT also helped us with our invoicing and we will need some additional support with our accounts as the business grows.
"Our industry can be extremely competitive so I’m keen to grow our overseas trade and work with DIT to make this as easy as possible. If a bed company that started from a kitchen table can break into overseas markets, anyone can.”
Mark Robson, Head of Regions- Yorkshire and the Humber at the Department for International Trade, said: “Aspire Furniture is a business that started from humble beginnings yet just two months into its exporting journey, has secured already impressive contracts in Germany and Ireland.
Pictured are Aspire MD Paul Murphy and interior design guru Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen.
