Award-winning exporter's great start to 2016

A new country added to its ever-growing list of export markets has delivered a great start to 2016 for Lancashire manufacturer What More UK.

The Padiham-based company, which makes a huge range of plastic household goods under the industry leading ‘Wham' brand, has added Sweden as the 64th country it now exports to. A large order for garden planters from one of Sweden's key retailers allowed What More to tick the Scandinavian nation off its target list, with the confident expectation of further orders.

What More already exports to fellow Scandinavian nations Denmark, Finland and Europe, as well as other countries around the globe, including sending plastic products to China and the Far East.

"Adding Sweden to our growing list of export markets is a great way to start the New Year," said ebullient What More UK director Tony Grimshaw.

What More UK only began exporting in 2008 after first establishing a strong business supplying retailers across the UK. Its international success was given a Royal seal of approval in 2014 with the prestigious Queen's Award for Enterprise in International Trade. Last month it was also recognised as Outstanding Exporter of the Year by the East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, where Mike Damns and his team have been an invaluable source of advice and information on exporting.

A short video showcasing What More's manufacturing capabilities has also been chosen to help launch a new online TV channel for UK Trade and Industry (UKTI), the government department which advises and encourages UK exporters.

What More has benefited from a wealth of free support and advice from UKTI's North West office under its director Clive Drinkwater. The new channel, "Export TV", will be promoted through Britain's global network of foreign embassies.

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Promoting its range of more than 650 products at major trade shows attracting key international buyers is another core element of What More's export strategy and it is now heading into a busy show period.

"At the beginning of next month we'll be exhibiting at the Spring Fair at the NEC in Birmingham, easily the UK's biggest annual trade show for the home and gift industry," added Tony Grimshaw.

"From there we go straight to the Ambiente show in Frankfurt, Germany, which is Europe's leading trade show for our market, and then in March we will make our USA trade show debut at the International Home and Housewares Show in Chicago. "Exhibiting at these shows is a massive logistical exercise, but you have to take your products to where the world's buyer will see them. We hope that Sweden will be the first of several new countries added to our export list in 2016."