Member Article

Textiles firm overcomes fire devastation with financial success

A Bingley-based textile business has celebrated a spike in sales after financial support from Yorkshire Bank.

Family-owned James C Brett Yarn Merchants’ factory in West Yorkshire was destroyed by a fire in 2003, but is set to report 30% sales increases for 2012 after the bank invested in the business.

The company has improved its turnover by 45% in the last three years, and has plans to build on its 24-strong workforce with additional office, warehouse, production and dispatch staff.

Overseas trade and an overdraft facility enabled the firm to recuperate its business, manufacture its products in Turkey, and acquire a new 9,000 sq ft warehouse.

The business designs and produces yarns, craft cotton, aran wool and knitting patterns, and last year produced 12 new ranges.

James C Brett was founded in 1965 by its eponymous managing partner, who commented: “We are a creative design and service-led business and are expanding due to the major resurgence in knitting as a hobby.

“The new warehouse has enabled us to streamline our stockholding from three premises, which has increased our stockholding capability and dispatch speed.”

Mr Brett praised his competitors for their support when the company suffered from fire damage, after they allowed James C Brett to continue to manufacture yarn to supply to customers.

He continued: “After about 18 months, and with backing from Yorkshire Bank, we outsourced our spinning to several companies in Turkey with whom we have built up excellent relationships.

“We have a long-term partnership with Yorkshire Bank which has always shown faith in
us and been supportive by backing our expansion plans.”

The Yorkshire business has international links with Ireland, Malta, Cyprus, the U.S, Canada and Mexico, as well as retailers of all sizes within the UK.

Partner at Yorkshire Bank in Bradford, Mark Jowett, said: “Yorkshire Bank has gained more than 150 years’ experience of supporting local enterprises since being founded by a textile magnate and we are especially pleased to have backed James C Brett after the fire and helped it to go from strength to strength.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Miranda Dobson .