Pictured: Staff from Party Shop Supplies Ltd receiving their early Christmas present of a loan from a benevolent business Santa (aka, Michelin Development Director Mike Cole)

A Stoke-on-Trent fancy dress firm is reversing the trend for moving production abroad to China by re-siting its manufacturing operation in the Potteries with help from Michelin Development.

Party Shop Supplies Ltd (trading as Charlie Crow) - a company which manufactures children's' fancy dress costumes - has had a five figure loan approved from Michelin Development, allowing them to buy new machinery for their manufacturing operation in Stoke-on-Trent. The investment has enabled the firm to establish around 80% of it's production at its North Staffordshire premises and in turn create three new full-time jobs - with a further fourth full-time job to be added in the new year.

Up until last year, 50% of Party Shop Supplies Ltd's production was based in China, but with the loan from Michelin Development the company is now reversing the trend to manufacture abroad and in doing so is creating UK jobs and going from strength to strength. With an expectation to increase turnover in the next two or three years, the Stoke-on-Trent firm is a success story which is literally now 'made in Britain'.

Sue Crowder, Party Shop Supplies Ltd Managing Director, said: "By moving our production process back to our Stoke-on-Trent premises, it has enabled us to be more flexible in meeting the demands of the market. 

"We can now produce new designs and styles that fit with the demands of the market, such as our new Kings and Queens range, which was generated in response to this year's Royal Wedding. 

"All of this has been in part possible due to the great financial assistance and advice from Michelin Development. At a time when we have been stonewalled by the traditional lenders such as the banks, Michelin Development has been there to provide us with the finance to fund our expansion plans. 

"They are very proactive in their approach and aside from the finance provided, they have helped us with manufacturing issues such as production flow processes, something in which Michelin are the experts. Michelin Development has been fantastic and it's a great feeling for a business to be taken under the wing of a large multi-national company like them. It's like having a big protector, who are there to look after you as you develop your business."

Along with taking on more staff, 2012 promises to be a positive year for Party Shop Supplies Ltd, with plans to expand further into US and Australian markets, alongside the current footholds they have in European markets. This includes a first time appearance at a large US trade show in Houston, in the new year which should help to facilitate their US expansion plans.  

Mike Cole, Michelin Development Director, said: "It's great to be able to support a company in the manufacturing sector which is dedicated to siting its production process predominantly here in North Staffordshire, with all the benefits in terms of jobs and investment that brings to the region.

"Party Shop Supplies continues to flourish despite the difficult current economic climate. They have shown themselves to be a true progressive, forward thinking company by moving production of the vast majority of products back to Stoke-on-Trent from China, so as to match market demands and thus bucking the trend for the widely claimed demise of the UK manufacturing sector."  

Michelin Development Ltd is dedicated to helping small and medium sized businesses that can create new employment in the areas of the UK, including North Staffordshire, Dundee and Ballymena, where Michelin has links with the community. The UK operation, which is part of a European initiative to support entrepreneurs and a cornerstone of Michelin's Corporate Social Responsibility Programme, helps expanding businesses through the offer of unsecured loans at Bank of England base rate (through the Royal Bank of Scotland) and the provision of free business advice.

In North Staffordshire since the scheme was launched back in 2004, in excess of £1M in loans have been approved and almost 500 jobs created. Over the eight years since it was formed in the UK, Michelin Development has helped over 140 enterprises in industries as varied as engineering, construction, IT and fine china. 

Michelin Development in the next year is looking to make further loans available and help even more companies create jobs. Interested parties should refer to www.michelindevelopment.co.uk to see how to qualify.