Export advice illuminating for Tamworth lighting business
A TAMWORTH electrical and lighting products manufacturer has won £600,000 in new business in the Middle East.
Scolmore International, based at Lichfield Road Industrial Estate, specialises in lighting products, wiring accessories, switches and sockets, mainly for the construction sector.
Last year it joined UKTI’s and Passport to Export scheme to develop its exports.
Export sales manager Jerome Leve said: “Before we contacted UKTI, our exports were limited and reactive. We were sure that we had the right products to export, but we needed a more strategic approach.
“Through Passport to Export, we visited a number of countries in the Middle East, including a construction trade mission in Qatar, which was a great showcase for our products and has opened the door to potential new projects.
“We also commissioned Overseas Market Introduction Service (OMIS) reports from UKTI’s commercial teams at the British Embassies in three Middle Eastern markets.
“These were hugely helpful because they put us in touch with the right people. We appointed distributors identified by the OMIS reports in all three countries and over the past year, we have sold products worth about £600,000 as a result.
Established in 1989, Scolmore International has 60 employees and a turnover of approximately £20m.
International trade adviser Rob Lawley, based at North Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “Scolmore is a fantastic company to work with. The team are an excellent example of how organisations should strategically approach potential export markets and then commit to visiting the countries to secure sales.
