Firm that supplied to the Olympics aims to wrap up export success

One local company that supplied to the Games, Worcestershire firm Pendragon Presentation Packaging, is looking to have overseas sales all wrapped up, with some help from UK Trade & Investment.

The Malvern firm supplies bespoke packaging to a range of top UK brands such as McLaren, Formula One and Manchester United. The company was chosen to supply the Diamond Jubilee presentation box for the Queen’s bouquet of flowers and also supplied the packaging for Nikon’s binoculars at the 2012 Olympics.

Pendragon, which recently signed a deal with a US partner, Creasman & Baltz, is now looking to ‘pack a punch’ overseas and aim to make exports worth 20 per cent of its annual turnover by the end of this year.

The company joined UK Trade & Investment’s (UKTI’s) Passport to Export programme for new exporters earlier this year in a strategic move to grow international markets.

Phil Humphreys, M D at Pendragon Presentation Packaging explains:

“We recognised that in order to continue to grow, we needed to look further afield for new business. So we’ve taken a two track strategy in these challenging times – investing in the business with new staff and machinery to improve our offer, and focusing on new, international markets. New staff combined with our continued investment in equipment means we are better able to go out there and win international orders.”

“We dipped our toe in the “exports” water earlier last year, when we were commissioned to provide handmade boxes to Baltz Pens made by Creasman & Baltz – a North Carolina company selling high quality pens. Then recently we signed a deal with the firm to act as our strategic partners and we are also developing a US website to further meet the demands of the US market. As well as the US, our next target market is the Middle East. The success of the Nikon contract and our experience with brands such as Manchester United and Formula One, means we are in a strong position to pitch for some of the many up-coming international sporting events. By the end of this year we aim to make exports 20% of our annual turnover.”

Phil says:

“We’ve attended some extremely informative and enjoyable UKTI sessions and are now planning to commission some market intelligence reports into key sectors.”

Pendragon is the result of a merger between two local packaging companies in 1993.

By investing in advanced 3D design and production facilities the in-house production team can create anything from high volume packaging, such as simple folding cartons, to innovative, handmade, bespoke one-offs enabling the company to offer a unique breadth of service.

Linda Smith, UKTI’s Head of Herefordshire and Worcestershire team says:

“Pendragon provides blue chip, high end clients with an excellent service which few of their competitors – either in the UK or elsewhere – are able to match. They are just at the start of their export journey in the USA and we are delighted to be working with them to open up more international markets for this innovative Worcestershire firm.”

Story links

Passport to Export

Pendragon Presentation Packaging

Contacts

To find out if UKTI can help your business expand overseas call: 0845 074 3515

or visit: www.ukti.gov.uk/westmidlands

Sectors: Business Services and Giftware, Jewellery & Tableware
Countries: United States and West Midlands
Export Action Plan