Textile group aims for Scarlet fever

A YORKSHIRE textile company which has helped to clothe the Royal family hopes to see its sales rise significantly as it develops consumer brands.

The growth of Hainsworth, which is based in Pudsey, West Yorkshire, shows that Yorkshire’s textile firms can still lead the world.

Hainsworth, which dates from 1783, provides the cloth which is used on the Royal Guards’ uniforms outside Buckingham Palace.

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It is also responsible for the fastest snooker and pool cloth in the world.

Today, the family-owned company employs around 170 people, and it expects its turnover to rise from around £13.5m to £17m over the next three years, with help from its new luxury lifestyle brand, Scarlet & Argent.

Scarlet & Argent, which was launched in January last year, consists of woollen blankets and throws.

The range has been taken up by stores such as John Lewis and Liberty, and further product launches are planned this year.

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Tom Hainsworth, the company’s managing director, said sales of Scarlet & Argent have been restricted to premium retailers.

Mr Hainsworth believes shoppers are looking for long-lasting, quality products; a trend which plays to Hainsworth’s strengths.

He added: “What we are finding from talking to retailers like Hudson Bay is that people are still going into stores, where they are spending more, but consuming less.

“They are buying products of a durable, permanent nature.”

Over the years, Hainsworth’s sales have been boosted by the fact that its products have been visible at major Royal events.

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Mr Hainsworth added: “We provided the uniform cloth for Prince William when he got married, and when Prince Charles married Diana he was also wearing our cloth.

“We’ve also supplied cloth for the military since the battle of Waterloo. Hopefully in years to come, we might provide cloth which is worn by the new Royal baby.”

According to Mr Hainsworth, the company has thrived by staying at the top of the market and having an uncompromising commitment to quality.

He added: “Every Steinway piano has a Hainsworth cloth inside – we also supply Harrods.

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“Brands that have a strong heritage don’t suffer in quite the same way as other brands during a downturn.

“When times are difficult, people revert to things that they remember from childhood that are solid and dependable.

“We have other new product ranges planned, and our success is due to our ability to know where we are in the market, and keeping the brand fresh.

“We’ve put the funding in place to develop customer facing brands, and some of these products are in Liberty and John Lewis in Oxford Street.”

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Hainsworth was recently presented with the Family Business Place Red Ribbon Award for Innovation.

The Red Ribbon Awards ceremony, which was held at the Pullman Hotel in London. honoured the best British family business-es.

Anita Brightley-Hodges, the managing director of the Family Business Place, said: “We are delighted to present this award to Hainsworth, because during its 228-year history, this seventh generation family business has quietly got on with developing innovative and protective fabrics for the emergency services, military uniforms, pool and snooker tables, as well as fabrics for some of the most exclusive homes and palaces around the world.

“By harnessing the best of their heritage, with the best of modern manufacturing, technology, sales and marketing, their first consumer brand Scarlet & Argent is the perfect platform to target consumers directly and showcase their passion for British quality.”

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Mr Hainsworth said: “This award is fantastic recognition for all the hard work being done by the Hainsworth team to build on our heritage and use it to create an exciting and successful future for the business.

“We have been delighted with the reception Scarlet & Argent has received from retailers this year, and will be rolling out new products during 2013.”

Hainsworth, which holds a Royal Warrant, runs a 250,000 sq ft mill, which is one of the most famous textile centres in Britain.