Preston bamboo flooring business sees sustainable growth

By Boost Business Lancashire

23 May 2019

david-bamboo-family-ltd-cropped.jpg

A Preston-based bamboo flooring specialist has growth aspirations to recruit six employees after receiving advice from Boost – Lancashire’s business growth hub.

David Lord set up Bamboo Family Co Ltd in 2018 importing bamboo flooring from China which he then distributes throughout the UK.

David had taken early retirement after being diagnosed with MS but felt ready to work again after positive stem cell treatment and decided to start up his own business.

He was introduced to Boost’s Growth Support Programme after seeing a Facebook post about the support and was then referred to Sue Denver from Winning Pitch to help him get started.

Boost is Lancashire's Business Growth Hub and is led by the Lancashire LEP (Local Enterprise Partnership) and Lancashire County Council and supported by funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Winning Pitch delivers Boost’s Growth Support Programme.

David said: “I have family connections with a niche bamboo flooring manufacturer in China. I recognised that this was a great business opportunity for me and something I could operate in UK, despite my disability.

“I was keen to be involved in promoting the environmental benefits of bamboo flooring. But having little experience in importing, wholesaling and marketing, I needed the confidence to set it up.”

Bamboo flooring is much more durable than wood and longer lasting too. As a grass, Bamboo regrows quickly when cut and is faster to replace that replanting felled trees.

Rona McFall, head of entrepreneurial solutions at Winning Pitch said: “When David was introduced to Boost, he needed knowledge to get started. Things had significantly changed since he last worked. This included learning about marketing and social media.

“He attended Boost’s Grow How Series to learn all about Google AdWords and digital marketing as well attending Facebook masterclasses. He benefited from our practical sales techniques course – to help him manage the opportunities his marketing efforts were generating.

“David also needed a better understanding about importing from China. Through the Growth Support Programme he learnt to manage this part of his business more effectively.”

Since receiving support and advice from Boost, David has set up storage and distribution facilities in Rossendale. He has also exhibited at homebuilding and household shows in London and Birmingham to showcase the bamboo flooring and secure potential supply contracts.

His customers include flooring suppliers, building contractors and interior design outlets

When David joined the Growth Support Programme his growth aspirations were to recruit six employees and turnover £500,000 over a three-year period. He is now developing his website to enable customers to order online and plans to appoint a part-time IT specialist as well as additional warehouse workers.

Rona added: “Bamboo Family Co is still in its early stages of growth, but with David’s international contacts in the industry and relationship with distributors in China, he’s well on track to meet his growth targets.”

David said: “It’s all heading in the right direction and I’m still in touch with Sue, who has been very helpful. We have plans over the next 12 months to launch a range of flooring products made from a limestone composite polymer, another sustainable hard floor product.

“Promoting the use of renewable products in the building trade is a key selling feature for our business. We are keen to be known as an eco-friendly business doing ‘our bit’ to protect the planet.”

Boost has received £3.65m of funding from the England European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is the Managing Authority for ERDF. Established by the European Union, ERDF funds help local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support innovation, businesses, create jobs and local community regenerations.  For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/european-growth-funding.

Latest news

1

VARS Technology team up with debt resolution specialists to fight fuel theft David Nichol John Garnett Aydan Jones and Laura Tilley

VARS Technology team up with debt resolution specialists to fight fuel theft

12 Sep 2025

2

University of Lancashire unveils Preston campus installation to celebrate name change University of Lancashire new feature

University of Lancashire unveils Preston campus installation to celebrate name change

12 Sep 2025

3

PM+M welcomes ten new apprentices for 2025 intake Lucy Field, Kate Walsh, Ellie Fisher, Zainab Aswat, Reece Jones, Aisha Bibi Patel, Finley Vila, Uzair Zariwala, Richard Prest, and Charlie Harrison

PM+M welcomes ten new apprentices for 2025 intake

11 Sep 2025

4

ROCCIA strengthens commercial division with senior appointment Andrew Grove

ROCCIA strengthens commercial division with senior appointment

11 Sep 2025

5

Final call for investors: Rossendale community solar project must hit target by November Gary McEwan managing director of Interfloor

Final call for investors: Rossendale community solar project must hit target by November

10 Sep 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
Sub36 Networking - Follow the signs
Sub36 Deaf Village Social1200
Networking
17 Sep 2025

Sub36 Networking - Follow the signs

The Deaf Village, Blackburn, BB2 5EN

10:00 - 12:00

LBV124 September/October Launch Event
MBP Arc Cinema Preston Opening 205
Networking
18 Sep 2025

LBV124 September/October Launch Event

The Arc Cinema, Preston, PR1 2BL

08:30 - 10:30

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

Longridge Soap Box Derby
Screenshot 2025-06-10 090035.png.png
LBV Hub Fundraisers
14 Sep 2025 - 14 Sep 2025

Longridge Soap Box Derby

Berry Lane, Longridge, PR3 3WH

10:00 - 16:30

Preston Tech Connection - The Ultimate Tech Quiz!
Preston Tech Connection Sept 25.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
16 Sep 2025 - 16 Sep 2025

Preston Tech Connection - The Ultimate Tech Quiz!

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:00

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
17 Sep 2025 - 17 Sep 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Stanley House, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

11:30 - 14:15

Cumbria Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880461633-4862066883-1-original.20241022-110415.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
19 Sep 2025 - 19 Sep 2025

Cumbria Business Expo 2025

Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle, CA2 4TS

09:00 - 15:00

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: September
Sept Freelancer (1).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
23 Sep 2025 - 23 Sep 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: September

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Your Business, Your Region: Making sense of devolution and Local Government Reorganisation
Chorley Council breakfast event new
LBV Hub Networking
23 Sep 2025 - 23 Sep 2025

Your Business, Your Region: Making sense of devolution and Local Government Reorganisation

Worden Hall, Leyland, PR25 3DH

08:00 - 11:00

Speed Networking with BNI
2.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
24 Sep 2025 - 24 Sep 2025

Speed Networking with BNI

Chorley Football Club, Chorley, PR7 3DU

16:00 - 19:00

The Marketing Meetup IRL: Lancashire - September
TMM Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
25 Sep 2025 - 25 Sep 2025

The Marketing Meetup IRL: Lancashire - September

Chorley, PR7 2SL

18:00 - 20:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV 123 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin