Bluebell sees turnover reach £1.6m

Sale-based furniture manufacturer Bluebell Fitted Furniture has announced turnover of £1.6 million at the end of the financial year in September 2015, an increase of 33% compared to the previous year (£1.2m).

The firm attributed the boost in turnover to the support gained from Business Growth Hub, part of the Manchester Growth Company (MGC).

The Hub’s digital growth team helped Bluebell launch its new responsive website, which has seen the number of online enquiries double. The firm has also employed three new members of staff as a response to increased demand.

Bluebell said it now plans to venture into the luxury furniture market and is developing a virtual apartment in its showroom to promote its new range.

Energy efficient LED lighting and a biomass burner to heat its premises with waste wood from production has also been installed by the company, which has saved £13,000 a year in energy and waste costs.

Mike and Alison Reuben, directors of Bluebell Fitted Furniture, said: “Working with the Hub has allowed us to explore opportunities we did not know were available to us. When running a business, it is easy to become caught up in the day-to-day, so it is a huge help to hear ideas and guidance from someone who has been there and done it, and who can bring a fresh perspective to the table.

“The market is in a particularly buoyant period. The recent growth in the property sector means that people are more willing to invest in their homes, making this an ideal time to target growth. We’re looking to capitalise on this with our new luxury product range, taking advantage of the heightened exposure our website has brought us.”

Chris Murphy, digital growth advisor at the Business Growth Hub, said: “For SMEs, developing brand awareness is key, and having an unresponsive website means firms are unable to reach a large proportion of consumers. Recent figures have shown that mobile internet usage has overtaken desktop as the most used digital platform, so a responsive website is vital if SMEs are to maximise their target audience and generate business.”

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