29 July 2010
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20 March 2009
Ultimate Products announces record order books
Ultimate ProductsUltimate Products - the UK’s biggest product sourcing and design business - has announced a 40% growth in its order books this year, thanks to a raft of high profile international contracts and deeper relationships with key UK customers.
Despite the retail downturn, the business has secured orders to the value of £25m since 1 January after securing international deals with major European and US retailers.
Ultimate is also benefiting from a dramatic increase in trade with the major supermarket chains and in the discount retail sector, where it is seen as a major non-food supplier.
Simon Showman (35), founder and chief executive of Ultimate Products, says the firm continues to buck the trend thanks to its ability to help retailers around the world to tempt cash-strapped consumers with top quality, promotional product lines.
Since opening its global sourcing office in Hong Kong in 2007 - and acquiring its Far East-based rival Active Asia last August - Ultimate has also sent a vital message to international retailers that its manufacturing and supply chain is robust, far reaching and provides “a complete end-to-end solution”.
“The key to our success has always been that we recruit experts to advise retailers around the world what their next ‘footfall-driving’ items will be - then we design and supply these faster and more cost effectively than our rivals, often even competing with retailers’ own in-house international sourcing operations,” explains Showman.
“A number of very deliberate tactical moves over the last two years - including our acquisition of Active Asia last summer - has put us in the best position for 2009 and beyond. We’re also continuing to invest closer to home - we’ve just spent £200,000 on doubling the size of our Manchester showroom creating a 20,000 square foot ‘retail theatre’ experience where we can showcase our latest products all year round.
"Our showroom is already the talk of the sector - and we’ve managed to get the CEOs of major retail chains onto the premises, so they can see first hand the value we can add to their offering.
“In times like these, our sourcing and design skills - as well as the integrity of our supply chain and strong relationships with Asian manufacturers - are all vital to securing the coveted international and UK retail contracts that are helping us grow rapidly, while our competitors suffer in this difficult climate.”
Simon Showman founded Ultimate Products with partner Barry Franks in 1997 - quickly growing turnover from £1.8m to £54m. Through increased UK customer penetration and international growth, the business is well on its way to achieving its initial £100m target.
In 2005, private equity firm LDC signaled the strength of Utimate’s future prospects by taking a 46 per cent share of the business in a £25m deal.
As well as designing and manufacturing products for major retailers, Ultimate has developed its own highly successful brands including Inspire tableware and Prolectrix electrical appliances.
The company also has a number of licensed brands under which it has exclusive rights - including housewares and fashion brands Gino D’Acampo, Phil Vickery, Anthony Worrall Thompson and Henleys.
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Despite the retail downturn, the business has secured orders to the value of £25m since 1 January after securing international deals with major European and US retailers.
Ultimate is also benefiting from a dramatic increase in trade with the major supermarket chains and in the discount retail sector, where it is seen as a major non-food supplier.
Simon Showman (35), founder and chief executive of Ultimate Products, says the firm continues to buck the trend thanks to its ability to help retailers around the world to tempt cash-strapped consumers with top quality, promotional product lines.
Since opening its global sourcing office in Hong Kong in 2007 - and acquiring its Far East-based rival Active Asia last August - Ultimate has also sent a vital message to international retailers that its manufacturing and supply chain is robust, far reaching and provides “a complete end-to-end solution”.
“The key to our success has always been that we recruit experts to advise retailers around the world what their next ‘footfall-driving’ items will be - then we design and supply these faster and more cost effectively than our rivals, often even competing with retailers’ own in-house international sourcing operations,” explains Showman.
“A number of very deliberate tactical moves over the last two years - including our acquisition of Active Asia last summer - has put us in the best position for 2009 and beyond. We’re also continuing to invest closer to home - we’ve just spent £200,000 on doubling the size of our Manchester showroom creating a 20,000 square foot ‘retail theatre’ experience where we can showcase our latest products all year round.
"Our showroom is already the talk of the sector - and we’ve managed to get the CEOs of major retail chains onto the premises, so they can see first hand the value we can add to their offering.
“In times like these, our sourcing and design skills - as well as the integrity of our supply chain and strong relationships with Asian manufacturers - are all vital to securing the coveted international and UK retail contracts that are helping us grow rapidly, while our competitors suffer in this difficult climate.”
Simon Showman founded Ultimate Products with partner Barry Franks in 1997 - quickly growing turnover from £1.8m to £54m. Through increased UK customer penetration and international growth, the business is well on its way to achieving its initial £100m target.
In 2005, private equity firm LDC signaled the strength of Utimate’s future prospects by taking a 46 per cent share of the business in a £25m deal.
As well as designing and manufacturing products for major retailers, Ultimate has developed its own highly successful brands including Inspire tableware and Prolectrix electrical appliances.
The company also has a number of licensed brands under which it has exclusive rights - including housewares and fashion brands Gino D’Acampo, Phil Vickery, Anthony Worrall Thompson and Henleys.
