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 – and have even featured in Hollywood movies!
The company’s combination of traditional skills and innovative design have made it one of the city’s manufacturing success stories – but the management team wanted to improve its approach to marketing to grow the business further.
It turned to the Growth Hub for support and was able to access finance to deliver new marketing campaigns, begin selling via Amazon and improve the Wentworth Pewter website. Support and advice was delivered by Growth Hub Business Growth Specialist Andy Sorsby.
In its first year of selling via Amazon sales have 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 on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
Support has come via the Growth Hub’s Enhancement Project and Skills Bank and helped to fund marketing campaigns and training.
Future efforts will focus on marketing to new niche customers such as souvenir shops at whiskey distilleries and breweries and rowing clubs which traditionally use pewter for trophies.
Richard Abdy CEO of Wentworth Pewter said: “Support from the 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 – we’ve been really impressed with the results so far.
“It’s helped us in two ways. Firstly, we’ve been able to increase our in-house marketing skills and expertise while also drawing on the know how of an outside consultancy.
“But it’s also helping us to gradually shift our approach to sales and our customer base. Our aim is to move 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, like a whiskey distillery, a personalised product. With help from the Growth Hub we hope to grow the business via this sales route.”
For the Wentworth Pewter website click here.
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 is looking to grow, contact the Growth Hub Gateway on 03330 00 00 39 or email growthhub@sheffieldcityregion.org.uk
The Sheffield City Region Growth Hub Enhancement Project is receiving up to £2.7m of funding from the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (and in London the intermediate body Greater London Authority) is the Managing Authority for the European Regional Development Fund. Established by the European Union, the European Regional Development Fund helps local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support innovation, businesses, create jobs and local community regenerations. For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/european-growth-funding.