The Sheffield-based manufacturer, Wentworth Pewter has boosted sales thanks to the help and advice provided by the Sheffield City Region Growth Hub.
The manufacturer, based in Darnall, produces handcrafted pewter gifts. The company’s combination of traditional skills and innovative design have made it one of the region’s manufacturing success stories.
Wentworth Pewter contacted the Sheffield City Region Growth Hub to improve their approach to marketing and to help grow their business even further. The Growth Hub helped Wentworth Pewter gain access to financial help that helped them deliver new marketing campaigns. They began selling products via Amazon and made improvements to their website to ensure that it was easy to navigate.
In its first year of selling via Amazon sales reached £50,000 while website sales have grown by 20%. Staff have undergone marketing training and have enhanced the company’s online profile by creating and growing its social media presence.
Wentworth Pewter continue to build on the help and advice that was provided by the Sheffield City Region Growth Hub. Their retail sales, including Amazon and website sales continue to soar, and are up by 39%.
They continue to focus on marketing to new niche customers such as souvenir shops at whiskey distilleries and breweries and rowing clubs who traditionally use pewter to make trophies.
Richard Abdy CEO of Wentworth Pewter said: “Support from the Sheffield City Region Growth Hub has been invaluable in giving our marketing efforts a significant boost. The uplift in sales we’ve had via the website and Amazon have been significant and we’ve been really impressed with the results.
“We’ve been able to increase our in-house marketing skills and expertise while also drawing on the know-how of an outside consultancy, and we’ve been able to gradually shift our approach to sales and our customer base.
“We have moved away from sales via traditional shops where the margins can be low, to direct sales to customers or via new niche markets, where we can offer customers a personalised product.
“The extra margin and company profile through retail sales and social media have helped secure the company and the craft going forward. We can now invest in the future rather than trying to maintain sales. With help from the Growth Hub we hope to grow the business further via this sales route.”
Dan Jarvis, Mayor of the Sheffield City Region, said: “The help and support that has been offered via the Growth Hub to Wentworth Pewter has enabled them to revitalise their business and grow even further.
“In the last two years more than 5,000 businesses have received help and advice from the Growth Hub and this is great for the whole city region. It is important that we work with the private sector to provide them with the help and support they need to help growth their business, and in turn the region.”
Wentworth Pewter was founded in Sheffield in 1949 by Arthur Wentworth and is now a family-owned business run by Maggie, Richard and Jayne Abdy. Skilled craftsmen based at Wentworth’s Darnall factory manufacture a range of pewter flasks, tankards, goblets, tableware and trophies which are sold around the world. Their products have even featured in Hollywood movies.
Wentworth Pewter received support from Business Growth Specialist Andy Sorsby who has been a Growth Specialist for two and a half years.
The Sheffield City Region Growth Hub works with businesses large and small to achieve their goals.
If your business is based in the Sheffield City Region and think you may benefit from Growth Hub help and support call them on: 03330 00 00 39 or email growthhub@sheffieldcityregion.org.uk
