Established in 1967, Peter Jones (ILG) Ltd. has evolved from a traditional saddlery to one of the world’s leading providers of carrying solutions for security and communication equipment.
Over the years, the company’s innovative designs, made from a combination of high-quality leather, robust nylon mouldings and other modern synthetic materials, have helped elevate it into one of the most sought-after suppliers worldwide. The continued drive for innovation and quality has helped the business keep its products more attractive than cheaper Far-Eastern imports.
What challenges and potential issues were you facing due to the Brexit uncertainty?
After many weeks of risk analysis, Director Morgan Jones and the team identified the following Brexit uncertainties as having the biggest negative impact on the business:
- supply chain – Peter Jones (ILG) sources materials from Europe. Brexit uncertainty has weakened the pound, thus increasing the company’s purchasing prices. Brexit could further increase supply costs through import taxes and supply disruption, which could lead to increased and therefore less competitive product prices. As a precaution, the business determined that buying and stock-piling these raw materials would be required despite limited warehouse capacity for this.
- improved product offering – to remain competitive and attractive to existing and prospective customers, the business would need to be able to justify any higher product premium (caused by Brexit) with additional value and guaranteed quality.
Your reasons for applying for the Brexit Resilience Grant: what projects is this going to be invested towards and how do you think the fund would help you tackle the challenges posed by Brexit?
Business Wales Relationship Manager, Rashad Ismail, helped Morgan with an application for the Brexit Resilience Grant (£49,500), which will enable the business to purchase two plastic injection moulding machines, enabling it to manufacture several components in-house rather than importing them from Europe.
To ensure its products are of the highest quality, especially if export taxes, duties and other Brexit-related costs have to be passed onto the customer, the business will further invest in additional testing equipment and fixtures for its Design and Production departments.
Peter Jones (ILG) has also benefitted from additional business support through Business Wales international trade, sustainability and Superfast Business Wales advice.
Any feedback on your engagement with the Welsh Government’s Business Wales service and the support you’ve received
“The guidance and advice received from Rashad facilitated a smooth completion of the grant application process, with the finance being received within a matter of weeks. This has already enabled us to purchase and install some of the required equipment, with the delivery of the remainder imminent. Through engagement with Business Wales, we became aware of other services offered such as advice for developing international markets, including funding for exhibiting at international trade fairs.
Marketing personnel also attended a free one-day seminar covering the latest practices and techniques for improving online presence. They found this event very valuable for planning their marketing activities.”
What other activities are you undertaking to prepare your business for Brexit?
Peter Jones (ILG) plans to focus its efforts on maintaining existing business and developing new trading opportunities in one of the biggest European markets – Germany. It aims to do this by participating at a large exhibition in Cologne later in 2019. The company also wants to expand its markets outside of the EU and is planning to have a presence at a major Law Enforcement trade show in the USA in October 2019.