County businesses urged to take a global view

Businesses across Lancashire are being urged to use the UK’s global reputation for quality to forge lucrative new markets overseas.

The message comes from Tony Grimshaw, the UK director of Padiham-based What More. The UK’s leading manufacturer of plastic housewares is today exporting to 71 countries around the globe.

The company’s proud boast is that its ‘Wham’ branded products reach around two thirds of the global population.

The business is one of the Department for International Trade North West’s ‘Export Champions’. It also received the Queen’s Award for International Trade in 2014.

Tony said: “Everyone’s got something to sell abroad. It doesn’t have to be a product. Our service industries are world-beaters; everyone has something to offer.

“The government somehow has to get everyone to consider going out to the worldwide market. There is a big world out there.”

He added: “We have so much confidence in our staff; they provide us with some of the best designs and products in the world, why shouldn’t we be able to sell them to the world?”

What More, which has a £51m turnover and employs a 245-strong workforce at Padiham and nearby Altham, began its exporting journey in 2007 – at that time it had just one overseas market, the Republic of Ireland.

This spring it will be hard at work selling its portfolio of more than 700 plastic houseware, gardening and DIY products at international trade shows in Frankfurt, Birmingham and Chicago.

Customers for its products, made in the 500,000 sq ft factory in Altham, include, in the US, the two biggest DIY chains in the world.

The business is also quick to harness the advantages of being a UK manufacturer. Tony said: “Now Brexit and the dollar has made it such a tempting proposition we have major UK retailers coming here to Lancashire for meetings every week.”

What More makes 5.4m pieces of plastic every month. The company has also moved into the lucrative bakeware market, making a range of non-stick and vitreous enamel products at its purpose-built factory. It also owns the multiple award-winning PushPan range.

The diversification is paying off, says Tony. The company continues to look at possible acquisitions, both at home and overseas.