Banking switch is child’s play for importer

IMPORTER and wholesaler Sambro International has transferred its banking from HSBC to Barclays which has provided a multi-million pound trade and working capital facility to support the growth of the business.

Sambro specialises in merchandise such as children’s toys, bags and stationery, selling primarily to major UK and European retailers.
 
The company acquires licenses from the likes of Disney and Hasbro then designs bespoke product ranges for retailers before outsourcing their manufacturing under license to the Far-East.
 
Its headquarters are in Bury with further offices and showrooms in Amsterdam and Hong Kong. The business currently employs 103 people with a turnover of £40m. The previous two years have seen record sales and the management team says it is keen to work with a bank that can help the business continue to grow.

Chairman of Sambro Brian Samuels said: “We have developed a strong relationship with Barclays over the last couple of years and have been extremely impressed by their retail and wholesale sector focus as well as their proactivity and willingness to lend. We want a bank for the long-term that supports our aims and ambitions with a relationship team who understand our business.”

The Barclays deal team was led by relationship director Matt Ryan, and Neil Dobson and Stephen Edwards from Trade & Working Capital.
 
Ryan said: “Sambro have a really strong management team, who have developed a robust business model and great products.
 
“They clearly understand the market and continue to innovate to capitalise on consumer demand for the licenses they hold. They have some really interesting growth opportunities which we look forward to helping them achieve. Sambro is a well-known North West business and one which we are proud to be associated with.”