Cardiff-based Sadler Jones has been shortlisted in FedEx’s Small Business Grant contest in the UK.
Competing for a grand prize of £20,000, Sadler Jones entered the final competition stage by successfully outlining their ambitions to expand into international markets and their plans for future growth.
Sadler Jones, run by Cath Jones, is a luxury stationery company that uses eco-friendly FSC paper to manufacture.
Speaking to Wales247, Cath Jones, owner of Sadler Jones said:
“I am so excited to be shortlisted for the Fedex UK Small Business Grant. I set up my business a year and a half ago and things have been non-stop ever since!
I have sold over 150,000 greeting cards and Sadler Jones is now stocked in independent shops all over the UK, alongside high street retailers such as John Lewis, Oliver Bonas, TK Maxx and HomeSense.
I applied to the grant with the hope of expanding the company internationally. If successful, the money would allow us to exhibit at UK export shows and international trade shows – something the company could not currently afford to do.
International sales would allow further business growth and in turn enable us to take on more employees in the UK.”
Shortlisting ten entries, the companies have been selected across a range of industries and include:
1. Sundried
An ethical sportswear brand that sells clothing and accessories made from recycled bottles, mixed coffee grounds and more. Sundried is located in Southend-on-Sea, Essex.
2. Rockit
Rockit is an attachable accessory that gently rocks your child’s pram or pushchair while on the go. Rockit is located in Bristol.
3. Suzero
Suzero hand-make tasty low sugar snack bars. They are free from artificial sweeteners and the flavours are completely natural. They are located in Peterborough.
4. Juta Shoes
Juta Shoes employ marginalised women to hand-make shoes from jute, an environmentally friendly fibre. They are located in Bethnal Green, East London.
5. McCormack Innovation
They have invented flush-away wound dressings and soluble wipes, reducing sewer blockages and helping protect the marine environment. They are located in Kirkcaldy, Scotland.
6. Naturally Tribal Skincare
Naturally Tribal use natural ingredients from Africa to manufacture their organic skincare products. They are in Milton Keynes.
7. Victoria Eggs
Victoria Eggs manufactures quintessentially British homeware and gifts, made from eco-friendly materials. Victoria Eggs is located in Kingston Upon Thames, London.
8. The Clean Kilo
The Clean Kilo is a zero-waste supermarket where customers fill their own containers with products from the store, as an attempt to reduce the use of plastic packaging. The Clean Kilo is located in Birmingham.
9. Iam By Nature
Iam By Nature sends you various skincare products for you to mix at home, allowing you to have full control of what going into your skincare treatment. Iam By Nature is located in Kensington, London.
10 Sadler Jones
Sadler Jones is a luxury stationery company that uses eco-friendly FSC paper to manufacture. They are based in Cardiff, Wales.
Martin Davidian, Managing Director Sales Enterprise National, FedEx Express and TNT said:
“This year we received a significant number of entries for the FedEx Small Business Grant and identifying our ten finalists was as challenging as ever. It’s fantastic to see the number of small businesses looking to expand beyond their local markets and it speaks volumes about the strength of the SME community in the UK.
“There’s a whole world of opportunity out there, and at FedEx we want to provide small businesses with greater support and guidance to tap into new markets and explore international possibilities. We look forward to crowning the winner.”
The next stage of the competition will see the selected finalists further detailing their international growth plans and presenting these to a panel of local business experts, including Martin Davidian, David Prosser and Benjamin Edmonds. The winner and runner up of the competition will be announced on 24 January 2019.
The FedEx Small Business Grant contest is in its third year in Europe. This year it has been activated in five markets: France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK.
