Asking price: £115,000

Sales revenue: Undisclosed

Net profit: Undisclosed

Fixtures value: Undisclosed

Stock value: Undisclosed

Business description
Established by the current owners in 2002, this niche business has generated significant interest in its range of eco-friendly and natural toy products and decorative art products, designed specifically for children and families. These fun, creative and rewarding products are sold direct to end users through an interactive website and through several major national store chains, as well as local independent craft and toy shops.

Being made completely from recyclable materials, they have tremendous universal appeal in this day and age, where children are being taught the importance of being environmentally aware and as such, have a great market place within the educational sector, where they are proving very popular.

The company has designed the products to be fun for children and families to use; they can paint or decorate the toys, as well as play happily and safely with them. However the company also sees an educational element in the products, teaching the children to be eco-friendly and considerate of the environment, that recycling can be fun and rewarding and treating the products with care and respect. Young children also learn how to create their own toys and own fun, whilst acting responsibly to the environment at the same time.

This is a business with enormous appeal and potential. However, the current owners have taken the business as far as they are able with both financial constraints and family commitments and as such, now wish to pass the company on to a company or persons, who are able to input the necessary time and funding, in order to achieve the true potential of this exciting business of the future.

Customer Service:

A key component has been customer service that is focused to a great extent on the quality of the products and delivery, the areas where the reputation of the business can be made or lost. Understanding this has meant that the business has prioritised these areas in sourcing products and timely delivery of these, to the extent where they are renowned amongst their client base for their high quality products with excellent service and timely delivery.

Key Strengths:

Without doubt the exclusivity of the products offered is a key component in the success of this business. The company has sourced unique and well loved products from a major global supplier, forging such strong links with them that they now have the exclusive distribution rights within the UK for this exciting range of products. At the same time the company has created and designed their own product range and brand name that are being well received not only within the UK, but by their global supplier as well who is looking at these products with a view to distributing throughout the rest of Europe.

This is a potentially wide and vast market: multi-markets and multi-distribution channels.

Key Opportunities:

Eco-friendly and environment used to be words used and understood by very few people. They are now a major part of all life and thinking, not only in the UK, but throughout the world as well. Any business in this sector can look at significant growth opportunities and this business is well placed at the forefront of their market place. With the right amount of exposure and investment this company will experience exponential growth and become a significant player within that market place.

Although this business projects a very professional image to its customers, there is room for improvement particularly in relation to the management of the company, where the introduction of a greater focus on sales and marketing would improve the business’ turnover and overall profitability.

Financial Information:

The business is being offered for sale on a going concern basis, all financial discussions will take place directly between the vendor and all interested parties under the auspices of Turner Butler.

Turnover and all financial figures will be available from vendor after initial meeting.

Years established: 2002

Employees: Of the two owners, only one works within the business, on a part time basis.

Home based: This business can be run from home.

Relocatable: This business can be relocated.

Property: Leasehold

Location
This is currently a home run business so is completely re-locatable and can easily be absorbed into an existing operation at no cost whatsoever.

Expansion potential
The current market for the eco-friendly toys and party bags craft market is growing and is forecast in the near and longer term for significant expansion because multi-distribution channels have been identified and successfully tested. The business is well positioned to take maximum advantage of this growth as it occurs. The owners understand that the business is recognised for its quality of product, brand and choice and has been able to establish itself and capture market share in a competitive environment. More assertive marketing and brand investment, could acquire an even larger slice of the market to build this excellent business into an even bigger cash earner.

Competition / Market
The business relies almost solely on its website and word of mouth recommendations, as well as the repeat business enjoyed. They do virtually no advertising or marketing, however, they did attend several of the main exhibition events in the UK in 2007, which proved very lucrative. Due to their family commitments, although this was successful, it has not been attended since. With a concerted sales and marketing drive there is little doubt that revenues, both turnover and net, could be significantly increased very quickly.

Support & training
The owners will provide a handover period and are happy to provide ongoing support thereafter.

Reasons for selling
Both owners realise that to achieve its true potential this business needs more in terms of financial and time investment, neither of which they are able o offer at this moment in time, as both have full time family commitments. Due to these considerations they have decided that now is the time to pass this business onto those who are able to maximise the true business potential.