Fuller Fillies rides into new markets

Fuller Fillies, based in Fitzwilliam, near Wakefield, has an equestrian clothing collection for ‘plus-size’ female riders.

The company, which has five staff, distributes its jodhpurs and gilets, riding boots and accessories through a network of stores and internet retailers.

Its turnover rose last year by 45 per cent to £375,000.

The company has the capacity to fulfil its bulk orders thanks to a £30,000 cash injection from Finance Yorkshire.

Chris Boast, Fuller Fillies’ finance director, said: “The equestrian industry may be struggling but at Fuller Fillies we are experiencing quite the opposite.

“Before the Finance Yorkshire investment we were experiencing times when we didn’t have enough stock to meet orders across a three-month period and if you don’t hold enough stock you will lose business.

“It was vital to our survival that that issue was address- ed.”

Suzanne Wild, Fuller Fillies’ designer and managing director, said: “In the UK, half the female population are a size 16 or over and so this is a market that other people are starting to wake up to.”

Ian Howson, Finance Yorkshire investment manager, said: “Fuller Fillies have not just found a gap in the market – some might say they have discovered a new market altogether.”

Finance Yorkshire provides seedcorn, loan and equity-linked investments ranging from £15,000 to £2m.