Ultimate Products rebrands amid fresh international focus

RETAIL supplier Ultimate Products has rebranded as UP Global Sourcing as it targets further international growth.

The private equity-backed Oldham business, which has expanded overseas amid a contracting and value-driven UK market, now generates 35% of revenues abroad, and wants to get to 50% by 2014.

As well as its 175,000sq ft base in Chadderton, UP has offices in Belgium, China and Hong Kong.

So far this year, it has secured new orders with major retailers in six new markets, including India, Thailand and Malaysia, and now trades directly with 24 countries outside of the UK.

It has also growth its business with existing customers, including Carrefour, the French owned international retail group, Target in Australia and TJX and Big Lots in the US.

It is also targeting South America, specifically Mexico and Brazil, Northern Europe and South Africa.
 
Originally founded by young entrepreneur Simon Showman and business partner Barry Franks as a stock clearance business 15 years ago, it now sources and supplies more than 5,000 products to major retailers around the world across core categories, from homewares and electricals to lighting and furnishings, providing end-to-end product management.

Chief executive Mr Showman said: “We’ve accelerated our international strategy significantly in the last three years in response to an increasingly challenging retail market in the UK.

“Looking ahead, taking our proposition to the world’s top biggest retailers across the major and emerging economies and reducing our reliance on the domestic market will be key to our long-term growth.  

“Meanwhile, the range of our expertise – including design and packaging, supply chain management, customer service and technical support – gives us a more added-value proposition to our retailer customers.

“We wanted our corporate brand to reflect the current dynamic and strengths of the business and felt UP Global Sourcing will help us achieve that.”

UP Global Sourcing, whcih has 180 staff,  works closely with retailers’ buying teams to develop bespoke ranges. It also manages a number of household names in its licensed-brand portfolio, including Russell & Hobbs, Salter, Swan, Good Housekeeping, Disney and Homedics.

Private equity backer LDC has owned the business since a £25m buyout in 2005.