UK’s Leading Textile Design Houses For Sale

Business description

One of the UK’s leading textile design houses with an extensive archive together with related intellectual property rights

Built upon the current Owners’ forty five years’ experience of textile design, this business, formally established in 1980, is widely recognised as one of the UK’s leading textile design houses. Known for its innovative approach and very much design led, this business is a design leader in its field.

Throughout its many years of operation, the business has created designs for all possible uses of textiles. It has designed specifically for both furnishing and dress fabrics, garments, scarves, shawls and wraps, handkerchiefs, duvets and sheets, coverlets and quilts, blankets, carpets, wallpapers, luggage, toys and games, even paper products including stationery and wrappings. As well as developing its own brand, the business has been involved in some very prestigious projects including carpet designs for one of the UK’s busiest airports and fabrics for some of the world’s leading fashion designers. Committed to good design, this business has been linked with more than thirty producers and manufacturers including leading High Street retailers in the UK and the US, in France and other countries throughout Europe and also in Australia and Japan.

Not surprisingly for such a well established, long standing and prolific operation, there is a considerable back catalogue of designs consisting of 22,000 paintings on paper and 16,000 fabric samples, approximately 8,000 internationally acclaimed and marketed designs together with related intellectual property rights. Many of the designs have become household standards and are widely recognisable – others however have yet to be used and from a market perspective, represent new designs for full exploitation.

The cornerstone to the success of this business has been its belief that good design needn’t be the preserve of the wealthy. The business believes that good design should be accessible – available to all, regardless of income and regardless of age or social class. As a result this business has been consistent in developing successful collections throughout its many years of operation. And whilst it has collaborated with some of the most prestigious names in the fashion and interior design world, it is equally at home working with major High Street retailers at all levels of the market.

With turnover of approximately £ 300,000 per annum – and with several collections currently in development with major High Street retailers, but perhaps most importantly the intellectual property rights to such an extensive archive of designs, this represents an excellent opportunity for any manufacturer or organisation involved in producing design based products, to acquire a business with the potential to generate significant long term revenues.

Key strengths:

A leading brand in its own right, this is a business internationally recognised for its qualities in textile design. Having been in operation for over twenty five years many people in countries throughout the world have grown up with the designs of this business. Such is the timeless nature of its designs, many are still in production since being introduced several years ago.

The business has some of the most talented designers in its field. Seen as colourists and painters of design, this business has the capabilities to produce an immense variety of popular designs across a wide variety of merchandise. This combined with a mastery of the most up to date technology and the ability to innovate new printing and manufacturing processes ensures the high levels of skill, expertise and creativity within this business are constantly in demand. The business works very closely with manufacturers to ensure that every detail of their products is worked to their exacting specifications.

This brand and the work generated by the business has been linked with more than 30 leading producers and retailers including Habitat, Jaeger, the John Lewis Partnership, Marks and Spencer, Cacharel, Etamine, Trois Suisses and Rodier. In the US market this business has recently agreed a new licensing arrangement with one of the leading home fashion manufacturers and distributors.

Perhaps the greatest strength of the business however, is its extensive archive. This valuable asset with its associated intellectual property rights contains an immense untapped resource of unique and original designs with the potential to generate significant long term revenues.

Property information

Location:

The studio operates from very well suited premises – a South London studio on a major thoroughfare into Central London. On two floors, occupying approximately 1,000 square feet, the premises offers a well-suited working space for a design business of any kind with lots of natural light.
Rent is £13,000 per annum. The lease has expired but it is understood can easily be re-negotiated.
The business also rents additional space in South London which houses its thriving distribution activities and houses the archive. Approximately 3,500 square feet, these premises are rented at an annual cost of £20,000. The premises are secured on a rolling rental basis. Rates are approximately £8,000 per year.

Other information

Competition / Market:

Having been established as one of the UK’s leading textile design houses for over forty five years, this business operates on a negligible advertising budget. There is strong reliance on high levels of repeat business and the most effective form of marketing, word of mouth recommendation, testimony to the excellent reputation the business has for its high quality designs and innovative approach.

Support & training:

The two joint Owners will provide full business familiarisation, training and handover to ensure a smooth transfer of the business to new Owners and would welcome an on-going involvement in the business moving forward.

Reasons for selling:

Ill health, whilst still allowing a significant contribution and involvement to be made in the creative process prevents one of the Owners from fulfilling the full day-today business development and management role previously undertaken. As a result the Owners have taken the reluctant decision to sell.