Traditional firm turns to technology to boost exports
Added: (Tue Nov 02 2004)
Pressbox (Press Release) -
July 2004
Press Release
A TRADITIONAL furniture company in Coventry has turned to the latest technology to boost exports.
Sitting Firm, in Harvest Hill Lane, Allesley, is targeting markets in the USA and Japan with the help of award-winning Rugby-based company Zarr Internet Sevices.
Zarr has developed a new website for Sitting Firm for customers to logon to and find out more about its traditional English furniture.
Bosses at Sitting Firm - which uses solid wood and hand crafted techniques to produce a range of tables, chairs and cabinets - said about 25 per cent of the hits on the site had already come from the USA while the Japanese market remained strong.
And following the increasing interest from the USA and Japan, the company is also looking into exporting more products to Russia as a developing market.
Sitting Firm, which was set up 15 years ago and employs 30 people, also produces an exclusive range of furniture for John Lewis.
Stephanie Green, Sitting Firm director, said: “One of the big reasons for updating the website was to give us wider exposure and we’ve already had quite a number of hits from the USA with 25 per cent of the hits coming from across the Atlantic.
“The US market is so huge, if you’ve got a device to tap into and see your product it certainly helps and hopefully will lead to an increase in the export side of our business.
“We are also looking to expand into the Russian market as well as other countries where tradition is a strong value and where our products would stimulate interest. Over the last few years, manufacturers have had it quite tough but at the moment business is generally good and we are excited about future potential.”
Hannah Reynolds, managing director of Zarr Internet Services, said: “British manufacturing has been put through the mill in recent years so it’s refreshing to see a company like Sitting Firm performing so well and we have thoroughly enjoyed working with the company on this project.
“It has already enjoyed positive feedback and will hopefully be able to increase exports to many more markets around the world in the future.”