A TEXTILE firm in Milford has boosted its overseas business by tens of thousands of pounds - after taking part in a Government-backed trip.
Bosses from ATF Textiles visited Indonesia after consulting UK Trade and Investment officials.
Company director Alistair Banks toured manufacturing firms to try to boost sales of ATF’s adhesive tape - which it supplies to high fashion and designer labels.
And during the visit he secured a hefty increase in trade.
Mr Banks said: “I visited an existing customer in Jakarta - a manufacturing firm which currently produces one million shirts per month and is going to increase this by up to 20 per cent with the use of one of our new tapes trialled and tested during the visit.
“As a result, our turnover will increase substantially as the new tape and garment design goes into production.
“The UKTI market visit was the perfect platform to meet customers. I met a number of potential customers who are now trialling our products and have already given us excellent feedback.” The company, based on Main Road, has three employees.
It also supplies its adhesive tapes to companies which manufacture industrial workwear, school uniforms and corporate clothing. The tape gives clothing, particularly shirts, flat, pucker-free seams. It currently exports 98 per cent of its products.
Staffordshire UKTI international trade adviser Robert Lawley, who organised the visit, said: “Indonesia is one of UKTI’s identified growth markets, but already UK exports to the country amount to £350m, so as a market for West Midlands companies it certainly has tremendous potential.
“Indonesia’s population stands at 240 million - the fourth highest in the world - and with significant investment secured for the future, it’s undoubtedly going to be one of the major economies in South East Asia.
“GDP growth was 6.1 per cent year on year in 2008 and 4.5 per cent in 2009, and a healthy forecast of 5.5 per cent has been made by the government for 2010.
“Companies like ATF Textiles have entered the market early and I’m sure that as the economy grows, so will their sales. It’s definitely a country that many more companies should consider as part of their export strategy.” For more information about how UK Trade and Investment can help your business expand into new markets abroad phone 01782 202222.
