Trendsetter beds down with higher profits
BEDDING manufacturer and supplier Trendesetter Home Furnishings defied tough market conditions to boost sales and profits.
The Manchester-based company which is run by Claire Black – Institute of Directors’ North West Young Director of the Year for 2011- supplies the likes of John Lewis, BhS and many independent retailers.
The family-owned operation based in Trafford Park, also has its own brand, The Fine Bedding Company.
Results for the year to the end of January reveal that Trendsetter grew sales from £11,3m to £13.7m, while pre-tax profits were up from £378,0000 to £636,000.
The company, which has 100 staff, said the improved performance was the the result of growing sales with existing clients and also improving its gross margins.
The latter was achieved by investing in new machinery at its Baltic Fibres manufacturing facility in Estonia.
Claire Black said: “I am delighted with the company’s continued growth, particularly in such tough trading conditions. These figures are testament to the hard work that everyone within the company has and continues to put in. The results are a great acknowledgement of all the changes that we have been through, the investments we have made and the potential that we have for the future.”
“The progress we have made over the past year has been excellent and we are well positioned for another year of continued positive growth through further investment in new technologies, export markets and an increase in our customer base.”
The company report added: “The group has maintained a healthy balance sheet and a low overhead cost base in the year ended 31 January 2012 and is optimistic about continued turnover and profit growth in the year ended 31 January 2013.”
The lion’s share of Trendsetter’s sales are made in this country (£13.1m), but sales in the EU rose from £501,000 to £640,000 in the past year.
The company ended the year under review with net assets of £8.69m, up from £8.33m a year earlier.
