A Luton company that produces and designs eco-friendly shopping bags, has doubled its overseas trade over the past year and achieved export success in Austria and Finland, using help from UK Trade and Investment (UKTI).
JuteBag, in Ribocon Way, on Progress Business Park, was established six years ago by business partners and childhood friends, Amit and Parit Shah. It is one of the first companies in the UK to provide an eco-friendly alternative to single-use shopping bags, with products made from natural fibres, jute and cotton.
Both Amit and Parit previously worked in the IT and finance industry. Their business began as a part time venture, where the company’s bags were sold from the boot of a car but demand grew for their products.
The business now has an annual turnover of £1m, employs six staff and is beginning to achieve overseas success with advice from UKTI trade advisor, Anton Rudgalvis.
Amit said: “It’s amazing to think how far the business has come. Neither of us had much experience in this field so have learnt very quickly as we’ve gone along. It’s been a real adventure. The growth of the company ultimately resulted from a growing number of people wanting to live eco friendly lives. Supermarkets began to adopt this approach so demand for our products soared. Our staff have also been instrumental to our success.”
JuteBag now serve a wide range of customers across many different market sectors such as retailers like SPAR and Budgens, charity shops such as British Heart Foundation, and corporates such as EON and McDonald’s.
The growth of the company led to JuteBag receiving queries from overseas businesses through their website.
In 2009 Amit contacted his UKTI trade advisor, Anton Rudgalvis, to get advice on how these queries should be handled and look into export opportunities.
Anton advised that JuteBag go on UKTI’s Passport to Export scheme, which enabled the company to develop a marketing strategy and identify suitable overseas markets. In 2010 the company went on to exhibit products at British Embassies in Finland and Austria.
Amit added: “The support we have received from UKTI and the British Embassies has been invaluable. Locally we have been given step by step advice on how to identify markets.
“Overseas the British Embassies helped us with the exhibition of our products and provided useful contacts for winning new business. I have been impressed by the range of services available from UKTI and would recommend that any small business looking to export should begin by contacting their local UKTI trade advisor.”
The company is now looking to break into Germany, using UKTI’s Overseas Marketing Introduction Service (OMIS).
Anton said: “JuteBag is an excellent British company, which approaches new export markets in a way that is considered and effective. The combination of their innovative products and hard work has led to this well deserved success.”