Mersey Timber branches out with e-commerce move
A SUPPLIER of chipboard kitchen and bedroom furniture has launched an e-commerce business after sealing a funding deal.
Family-owned Mersey Timber of Kirkby, is hoping sales will rise to record levels after its investment in four new website stores.
The company has secured a £500,000 finance package from Yorkshire Bank, which will be used to buy new stock to meet an expected increase in demand.
Mersey Timber processes more than 10,000 pieces of melamine-faced chipboard every week and sells to the trade and public across the UK. Turnover at the company, which employs 32, has trebled to £3.2m over the past decade
Managing director Terry Stephens, led a management buyout of the business nearly 30 years ago and runs it with his wife, Kathleen.
He said: “The industry has really changed in the past 10 years. Gone are the days of simply offering a choice of oak, beech and pine woods. People are now looking for a greater range and that’s why we have opened our online stores.
“We have over 300 products to choose from and we hope this new sales avenue can help push us to our most successful year in 2012. We’re delighted with the support from Yorkshire Bank and we look forward to seeing the return on the investment.”
Mersey Timber operates from a 30,000 sq ft head office in Kirkby, where there is also a second processing plant, in addition to a storage warehouse in Bootle.
It had a record year in 2010 and is on track to beat the £3.2m sales figure this year.
Andrew James, managing partner at Yorkshire Bank’s Financial Solutions Centre in Liverpool, said: “This is a perfect example of a business spotting a quality growth opportunity to help them get to the next level.
“Mersey Timber is a well run family business and not only are we delighted to welcome them to Yorkshire Bank, we look forward to supporting them for many years to come.”
