Member Article

Leeds furniture entrepreneur aims for £1 million turnover after one year trading

Leeds entrepreneur Daniel Fairburn launched online furniture company Out & Out Original one year ago and has now set his sights on the £1 million mark for 2015.

In May 2013, Daniel founded and launched www.outandoutoriginal.com, an online furniture store that is committed to supplying ethically sourced and produced furniture.

Thanks to a £50k loan under the Government’s Funding for Lending Scheme and the help and support from NatWest director of Business Banking Chris Rushworth, the company has grown from strength to strength.

Despite the business only starting a year ago, Out & Out Original, based in Doncaster, aims to hit the £1million mark next year and they are looking to grow internationally too.

Daniel Fairburn, director and founder, said: “Despite travelling the world and living abroad for several years, the single greatest challenge to date was setting up Out & Out Original.

“I approached four banks with my business plans and one point blank refused to even meet me but the team at NatWest took the time to read my business plan and were constructive in their feedback. With their help, I’ve been able to start and run a successful business.

“Without the loan, I wouldn’t have been able to buy all the stock or launch the marketing drive needed to get the business to where it is today and for that I am truly grateful.”

After graduating from Leeds Metropolitan University in 2005 with a first class honours degree in Business and Marketing, the 30-year-old relocated to Saigon, in Vietnam where he started working for Danish garden furniture giant, ScanCom International.

He worked and lived in Vietnam for six years, rising through the ranks to become Head of Product Development. Throughout his career, the father of one has worked with the likes of IKEA, Next and Laura Ashley before going alone and founding his own business in 2013.

Within the first three months, the website received 25,000 visitors and to date, the business has over 270 products and the team has doubled in size.

NatWest’s Chris Rushworth said: “We knew that Daniel had an excellent business idea matched by a strong business plan and an energy and enthusiasm which would take him a long way.

“His success in his first year has been outstanding, and we are proud to work with him.

“We wish Daniel an even more successful second year of trading and I would urge anyone else with a great business idea to talk to us to see how we can help bring it to fruition.”

Daniel added: “I am so pleased to see how the site and the business has grown over the past year. I still remember when the very first order came in in the first two weeks and the overwhelming feel we had when packaging and shipping the product out.

“It has been stressful at times but I’m very confident in the path that we’re on and it is all down to the hard work of each and every member of the team.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .