An historic Angus twine maker and gifts company is enjoying renewed exporting success after targeting its goods at high-end retailers.
Nutscene, based at Kingston Works at Kingsmuir near Forfar, is now exporting its products to 30 countries around the globe after it range of twine in different thickness and colours caught the eye of interior designers and craft lovers.
The firm – whose roots go back to 1922 and the jute trade in Dundee – still manufacture using traditional methods and original machinery but have refocused their business in recent years to capture more high end trade.
Whilst maintaining the traditions of the company, owners Shona Young, Laura Clark and James Lever decided to push ahead with new product development and to explore new marketplaces in a bid to push the company forward.
The company sought support from Business Gateway and are a now pursuing a new international strategy to identify new overseas clients.
“We definitely wanted to move the company in a different direction and to make our brand more modern and eclectic while maintaining the quality we have always had,” Shona said.
“We still use the same machinery from 1922 and we were adamant that we were staying in the Angus area employing local people.
“We began targeting less garden centres and more high-end retailers and this has worked really well for us.
“Our brand is now a well-known name in more than one industry and remains a favourite all over the world. Business Gateway has played a pivotal role in helping us to develop an international strategy.
“With their support and advice, we now have a plan in place to not only capitalise on our existing success but to keep driving it forward and remaining proactive in targeting new markets home and abroad.”
The new strategy has seen the company gain in foothold in a number of international markets while retaining a high-profile UK presence through events such as the Chelse Flower Show and tie-ups with premium brands like home and garden specialist Highgrove, which passes all profits to The Prince of Wales’s Charitable Foundation.
“We had a very clear vision of where we wanted Nutscene to be in the future and since then we have worked hard at positioning ourselves there,” Shona said.
“Not only do we now export to 30 different countries, but we are stocked in high end shops all over the world such as Anthropologie, Crate and Barrel, The Conran shop, London and Paris and William Sonoma.
“We can also be seen in New York’s Metropolitan Museum and supply the Highgrove brand.
“We have had some really wonderful customers in America over the years and this has really helped us in getting exposure in the States.”
Adviser John McQueston of Business Gateway said Nutscene had moved with the times whilst maintainign their core values.
“Our main support and advice has been regarding exporting and international sales which has been steadily growing over the last few years,” Mr McQueston said.
“We pointed them towards an international strategy workshop with Scottish Development International and have provided advice on how to attract visitors to the company website.”