Pictured above: Lilly and Sid's Vicky Miles with UK
Trade & Investment international trade adviser Parminder
Hayer
A Warwickshire company producing babywear is rapidly expanding
its export business with the aid of UK Trade & Investment
(UKTI).
Lilly and Sid, based in Rugby, started up in March 2009 and
offers a coordinated range of jersey and knitwear clothes and soft
toys for babies and toddlers.
The company, with a staff of five in the UK, already supplies
its range of 'funky' baby clothes and luxury baby gifts into
Selfridges, Harvey Nichols, Fenwicks and John Lewis, and over 60
independents across the country.
Lilly and Sid - named after the owners' children - turned very
early on to UK Trade & Investment to guide the company into
exporting, and is currently signed up to the flagship Passport
scheme.
This programme provides a package of support for new or novice
exporters, including a free export health check, attendance at an
export workshop, assistance in formulating an international trade
strategy and funding towards implementing this strategy, quality
training and mentoring advice and access to the full range of UK
Trade & Investment services.
Lilly and Sid is now rapidly expanding its export drive across
Europe and the Middle East and shortly into Canada as a result of
the support from UK Trade & Investment and the Passport
scheme.
The company's owner Imran Hassan said: "We landed our first
export deal with Brown Thomas in Ireland in September 2009.
It was fantastic - and we thought; "Wow, this is the way to
go." But we needed expert help and that's when we contacted
UK Trade & Investment.
"We are exporting across Europe, including Italy, Spain, the
Netherlands and Cyprus, as well as Kuwait and Korea, where earlier
this year we were awarded the 'Kids in Fashion and Style Awards
ASIA 2010'.
"Our turnover is far outstripping our initial forecasts and we
are looking at 35-40 per cent of this being down to
export.
"With support from UK Trade & Investment and the
encouragement of our international trade adviser, Parminder Hayer,
we have the confidence to seek export markets and the results have
been far beyond what we could have imagined."
International trade adviser Parminder Hayer, based at Coventry
and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: "The Lilly and Sid
brand has really caught the imagination in overseas markets.
We at UKTI are sure that they will go from strength to
strength."