Workwear company sees sales soar after exhibition at EMCON

A workwear company launched just over a year ago has seen a significant increase in work orders after exhibiting at EMCON 2018.

Newton Aycliffe Workwear Supplies was one of 18 companies which exhibited at the Incubator Zone within EMCON.

During the event owner Gemma James was inundated with enquiries from companies interested in her products and has since delivered orders for a Darlington recruitment company which came about as a direct result of introductions made on the day, whilst new business in the three months following EMCON 2018 has significantly increased.

Gemma said: “We were so happy with the how the event went for us and were confident that that we would win work, given how many people came over to see us.

“And in the months since, we’ve been contacted by numerous businesses in the area who have placed orders with us, including Whurk Recruitment, who asked us to produce branded clothing for them.

“Things are going really well and while we can’t say for certain that it’s all down to our involvement in EMCON, it certainly helped raise our profile and put us in front of companies that otherwise we wouldn’t have had the chance to meet.”

Newton Aycliffe Workwear Supplies, which is based at a unit on Aycliffe Business Park and was launched by Gemma after years working for other people, produces branded workwear including sweatshirts, T-shirts, trousers and hi-vis clothing.

And now, just a couple of months into the year, Gemma is targeting continued growth and is also considering returning to EMCON 2019, on Thursday, October 10, as a fully-fledged exhibitor.

Gemma added: “I’m really excited about the year ahead, though the greatest challenge for me will be managing the growth we’re currently experiencing.

“We’re certainly much more established now and I am looking at investing in new machinery which will enhance the services I can offer clients and also put me in a stronger position to win bigger contracts.”

The Incubator Zone is a programme of support aimed at micro and small companies in County Durham, who have never exhibited at EMCON but are keen to do so.

A key strand of the Business Durham ‘Durham Business Opportunities Programme’ and managed by LEC Communications and Design, the programme offers participants a package of support which includes one to one and workshop training to prepare for exhibiting, marketing materials including a banner stand and flyers designed and printed, and on the day and post-event support to capitalise on the opportunities presented at EMCON.

Leanne Fawcett is managing director at LEC. She said: “We’re delighted to hear that Newton Aycliffe Workwear Supplies has won work after taking part in the Incubator Zone at EMCON last year. This comes just weeks after NCG Solutions delivered a training contract won on the day of the event.

“Alongside many of the other Incubator Zone exhibitors who are still in the process of following up leads made at EMCON, it really does reinforce just how important the event is as a platform for winning work and showcasing what your business does to a diverse audience of potential customers.”