When Fife entrepreneur Donny Carstairs took over specialist tablewear business The Just Slate Company four years ago he knew exactly where he wanted to take the Kirkcaldy based company.
With help from Business Gateway Donny has transformed the business (www.justslate.co.uk), securing a list of high profile clients, growing staff numbers to 20 and generating a 70% to 90% increase in annual turnover each year over the past few years.
Not content to sit back on his success Donny is now looking at a possible expansion into mainland Europe.
“Our slate place mats and coasters are big sellers but we have also expanded our range to include a number of other products including cake stands and butter trays,” explains Donny.
“All of our products are hand made in Scotland to the highest standards and this attention to detail has been recognised by our growing list of clients including John Lewis, Selfridges, Fortnum & Mason and Brown Thomas,”
Not only has Donny secured orders from some of the country’s most prestigious retailers but he has also been working closely with a number of top chefs including Gordon Ramsay and Martin Wishart who both use his unique tablewear in their restaurants.
Although The Just Slate Company has already attracted a number of high profile clients, Donny is well aware that he needs to have a presence at the big trade shows to keep awareness levels high, and that is one of the reasons he approached Business Gateway.
“My adviser was very supportive and helped me secure funds to attend some key shows down south,” explains Donny. “We need to keep our profile high so we will be at a number of events this year including the Ideal Home Show in Glasgow in May.”
In addition to the funding support, Donny has received help from Business Gateway in a number of other areas and the entrepreneur has been a regular participant in the organisation’s free workshop programme.
“Having a great product is one of the fundamentals of business success and Donny’s stunning slate tablewear is definitely in this category,” says Business Gateway Adviser, David Howie. “We have helped Donny with various business planning issues in the past and he found the website and marketing workshops particularly beneficial.”
To find out how Business Gateway can help your business visit www.bgateway.com or call 0845 609 6611. Alternatively contact your local office on 01592 858 333.