Member Article

County Durham's Roman empire keeps expanding with £1.3m funding

A County Durham-based shower company has secured a £1.3 million finance package to develop new product ranges and aid their continued international expansion.

Roman, of Newton Aycliffe, will use the investment to support the development and launch of the new products in new export markets in Singapore, USA and the Middle East.

Currently just under 10% of their turnover is generated from overseas sales - in markets including France, Spain, Holland, Poland, Malta, Canada and the UAE - and the company believes their new products can help overseas turnover grow to 20% within five years.

Roman manufacture shower enclosures and bath screens, and launched their exclusive Decem range at the end of last year, targeting high-end retail markets in the UK and overseas, and is set to introduce its Lumin8 range of enclosures later this year.

The company has set up a subsidiary company in Malaysia - Roman Asia - which is positioned to increase sales within the Asian market, primarily targeting the growing South East Asia luxury hotel market.

Roman manufactures its range of shower enclosures and accessories at its Newton Aycliffe headquarters and exports its goods globally.

David Osborne, Roman managing director, said: “We aim to establish a number of partners in key markets and to be able to mature in those markets with all our new products, such as our Decem and Lumin8 ranges.

“Our Decem range is designed for the international hotel market, as the range incorporates all the key features and benefits required, such as increased height of shower enclosures, tailored design specifications and the fact that it has been developed and manufactured in Britain.

“Roman is a well-established UK Brand, and is home to the UK’s largest shower manufacturing plant. Being a British manufacturer is becoming increasingly important in international markets as it is a key differential and a trusted sign of the highest quality of products.”

The investment been been provided by HSBC Commercial bank, and Roman has switched its full business banking to the bank’s Tyne Tees Commercial team in a deal led by senior international commercial manager Stuart Henry.

David added: “Roman is growing internationally and we also have a subsidiary in Malaysia, which encouraged our move to HSBC. HSBC is a bank with genuine global reach, which is massively important in simplifying international trade. We have also received consistently good advice from HSBC.”

HSBC’s international capabilities and trade expertise were key drivers behind the deal. HSBC has also put in place a forward exchange contracts facility, which helps protect the company against adverse movements in exchange rates.

Roman, which employs 160 people, was established in 1985 by David Osborne’s father, Gerry, who has now stepped up to the role of Chairman. It operates three main brands: Roman, Haven and Roman at Home - an online homeware proposition.

Pat Dellow, HSBC Tyne Tees area commercial director, said: “Roman is proud of the quality of its products and the ‘Made in Britain’ stamp certainly strikes a chord with international buyers.

“This progressive and innovative company clearly recognises the benefits of targeting overseas growth, which helps to secure and create jobs in the North East and boosts the local economy. The Government has set a target of doubling exports by 2020 and it is companies such as Roman that will contribute to that.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Graham Vincent .