What More UK: Why we try to buy local and sell global

By Scott Dawson Advertising

17 May 2021

Through buying locally wherever it can and selling globally, What More manages to support the business community at home, while simultaneously putting its products in to promising growth markets overseas.

What More UK is a Great British success story. The company has managed to grow its sales year on year.

What More UK is the market and brand leader in the housewares sector. It’s the organisation that owns the very popular housewares brand Wham. Its products are available in all the major supermarkets in the UK and a further 1,600 independent retailers up and down the country.

“A business that grows its share of a mature market survives. One that grows its share in a growing market thrives. That’s the thinking that led us to look globally for new customers,” says company Director Tony Grimshaw OBE.

The size of the UK housewares market is thought to be around £13.5bn, a figure that has remained fairly stable for the past 10 years.

The driver behind What More’s growth then is not so much at home in the UK, but overseas. Here is a company setting a great example to the business world. What More buys materials as locally as possible, and then exports finished products all over the world, 75 different countries to be precise.

Purchasing Manager Sue Beavis says: “We can’t always buy from within the UK, but where we can we do. This purchasing strategy gives us a more flexible supply chain.

“We can get certain materials quicker if they come from within the UK, close to the factory gate. We don’t have to worry so much about delays. That means our customers don’t have to worry about delays either.”

What More’s various bakeware lines, which have been so popular during lockdown are a great example. The steel comes from Port Talbot, it’s then coated in the midlands, and finally pressed in Altham.

Manufacturing companies are well known for having complex supply chains. What More has built a competitive advantage by reducing that complexity.

On top of that, it’s great for the country as a whole. Selling products overseas brings foreign money into the British economy. When it gets here, buying locally keeps it here.

What More UK manufactures housewares of all kinds. Its products range from bakeware to around-the-sink items, to home storage. It produces items for the DIY sector, the home office, laundry and even planters and troughs for the garden. All its products proudly display the Made in Britain logo.

It is a zero to landfill company and its award-winning Wham Upcycled range is made from 95 per cent recycled single use plastics.

For more information about What More UK visit www.whatmoreuk.co.uk

 

                                                     

    

Latest news

1

Inspired plc acquired by HGGC Inspired logo

Inspired plc acquired by HGGC

19 Aug 2025

2

Lancashire uniform provider acquired in £12.5m deal Trutex images

Lancashire uniform provider acquired in £12.5m deal

19 Aug 2025

3

Burnley aircraft firm sees profits soar Safran Nacelles

Burnley aircraft firm sees profits soar

19 Aug 2025

4

Lancashire marina bought by Aquavista Fettlers Wharf Marina

Lancashire marina bought by Aquavista

18 Aug 2025

5

Work starts on new business units at Enterprise Zone Danny Pinkus Cllr Mark Smith and Robert Pinkus at Phase Two Of Enterprise Court

Work starts on new business units at Enterprise Zone

15 Aug 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

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

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Header (24).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
21 Aug 2025 - 21 Aug 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Mytton Fold, Langho, BB6 8AB

11:30 - 14:15

Morecambe Bay Walk
Walk.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Awards
30 Aug 2025 - 30 Aug 2025

Morecambe Bay Walk

Arnside, CARNFORTH, LA5

09:30 - 14:00

Tri-Site Survey Equipment Showcase
Linkedin Cover.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
03 Sep 2025 - 03 Sep 2025

Tri-Site Survey Equipment Showcase

Harewood House , Leeds, LS17 9LG

09:30 - 16:00

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

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

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

Help to grow management course
Help to grow - barriers to growth.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Sep 2025 - 16 Dec 2025

Help to grow management course

Preston Campus , Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

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