A North Wales merchandising company that supplies Olympic stars through to local firms is celebrating a successful year by moving into a new base and recruiting more staff.
Sional supplies more than 60,000 promotional products, from branded pens to sports clothing, uniforms and hi-vis workwear, with items sent as far afield as Australia.
It’s also an official re-seller of sportswear for Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea football clubs, which can be personalised.
Among its 2,200 customers are UK-based multi-national companies, the Welsh Olympic Trap Team, Cambrian Rally, sports clubs, schools, local authorities and charities.
Sional has just marked a record-breaking financial year, with sales rising by more than 70%, and is on course to hit £700,000 in the coming 12 months.
The company is now gearing up to move into expanded premises, taking over a unit on Llanfairfechan Industrial Estate, which has stood empty for several years, and recruiting more staff to enable it to fulfil larger contracts, more quickly.
Sional was launched 11 years ago by Alan Jones, a former engineer with Welsh Water Dwr Cymru and his wife Sioned.
The firm, which now employs eight people, was originally run from the bedroom of their home in Llanfairfechan. It quickly grew into a log cabin in the garden and then moved a purpose-built base in Mount Road.
Managing director Alan said: “We’ve had an extremely successful year, and our annual turnover has grown at an impressive rate. The increase in gross profits was achieved by a rise in sales to existing and new clients.
“However, we’ve now reached capacity in our present unit in Llanfairfechan and so we decided that we needed larger premises to continue this growth. As this is the village where Sioned and I have lived for many, many years, we wanted to keep the company here.
“So we are delighted that we will be moving just a short distance away, to the industrial estate, keeping local jobs and also bringing back to life a unit that has stood empty for several years. We have already had positive comments from those living nearby on the improvement work we have started, such as trimming back overgrown bushes around it.
“The expanded premises means we will be able to work far more efficiently and service more contracts, as we will have so much extra space.
“Also, for the first time, we will have a showroom where customers can examine what they are planning to order, which will again help us to build the business.
“Our aim is to become the first and only stop for all promotional and branded items for companies, public bodies, clubs and schools in North Wales and north west England.
“We now supply a wide range of goods including tee-shirts, uniforms and footwear, sportswear and high-vis clothing, which can be printed or embroidered. We use clothing manufactured by Snickers, American Apparel, Musto, Adidas and Nike Sports, for lots of sports clubs and schools. We also do one-offs – such as for family events or hen parties – and so the showroom will be particularly important for such customers.
“In addition, we supply items on behalf of our clients to a wide range of outlets, from giveaways for tradesmen at plumbing supplies through to goodie bags for major business conferences and awards events.
“Whatever the customer wants, we can supply, with their name on it.”
Sional’s products include workwear and uniforms for companies, local authorities, health trusts, hotels, sports clubs and schools. Other promotional goods include banners, key-rings, pens, wallets, toys, bags, umbrellas and even onesies.
The company also runs free online shops for dozens of schools, clubs and societies, helping them to raise much-needed funds. They include the Welsh Olympic Trap Team, Quattro Owners Club, Caravanners R Us, Welsh Clay Target Association, North Wales Car Club, Weightlifting Wales, Ysgol Aberconwy and Ysgol Friars.
More details at 01248 689249 or sional.co.uk
