North east ethical retailer targets massive growth after boom year.
Posted on 13th March 2008
Ethicalsuperstore.com, whose headquarters are in Ouseburn, has rapidly become the UK’s largest one stop online shop for all ethical, fair trade and eco-friendly products, since launching the operation two years ago.
Co-founders Vic Morgan and Andy Redfern says the boom in ethical retailing means they are predicting a great future for the company, which recently enjoyed a fantastic Christmas success. It’s on track for sales in excess of £2m this financial year.
Vic Morgan said: “Last December alone, we witnessed sales in excess of £300,000, which was a 285 per cent increase on the same period last year. Christmas was ground-breaking for us. It has proved UK consumers are keener to look behind the label to find out more about where their purchases come from and how they were made.
“We’re doing everything to ensure Ethicalsuperstore.com stays at the front of the industry in providing ethical shoppers with great products, competitive pricing and fantastic service.
“Given how strong the customer response has been so far, there is every reason to suggest that we could reach turnover figures in excess of £40m within five years.”
Part of Ethicalsuperstore.com’s growth plan has included the recent rebranding of the company logo, along with expanding its warehouse operations on the Hawick Trading Estate in Ouseburn into an additional neighbouring unit. Morgan says the company is now actively searching for the right premises to move the company to before the summer.
He explained: “It’s incredible to think we were only trading from an office in Newcastle with a few products in the back room when we started in 2006. Now we’ve outgrown our current premises and are actively searching for warehouse space in excess of 25,000 sq ft.”
Morgan, who is originally from Boston in the United States and has a history of ethical business success , says the company will remain loyal to the North East and predicts it could see its workforce rise from 25 currently to more than 60 staff over the next two years.
His business partner, Andy Redfern says ethical consumers’ behaviour over recent months has helped them redefine the direction the site will be taking in the future. He said: “Eco-gadgets and bulk fair trade and organic food purchases have been two major areas of growth for us. In addition, we’ve seen better-than-predicted spikes in sales of our gift range throughout key dates in the calendar. These are three core areas we will be putting a lot of energy and focus on, to further improve the range.”
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