Angels’ Share Glass has secured a £500,000 order to supply its gifts to duty free outlets across Asia.
The Stirling-based glassmaker has signed a three-year deal with Chinese importers Hainan Silverwing International to produce its giftware range for the Asian market.
The handmade gifts, which include glass angels, whisky water droppers, gin-filled glass pigs, spirits glasses and baubles, will be sold in World Duty Free shops at Asian airports from October.
It is the largest order to date for the family firm, which marks its 10th anniversary next year.
Managing director Karen Somerville said: “This is a massive order for us and a fantastic opportunity which will secure our future for the next three years and beyond.
“We had actually been focusing on North America this year following a successful trade mission to New York which led to a large order from a Manhattan hospitality venue.
“We also recently shipped some of our giftware to Japan following the virtual ‘Discover Scotland’ showcase, but China wasn’t on our radar at all, so the order was an unexpected bonus after a Scottish customer recommended us to their importer, Bardinet Group Europe, who initially contacted us.”
The deal was welcomed by Scottish Development International (SDI), which supports the international growth of companies in Scotland.
Laura Suarez, Scotland manager for the consumer lifestyle sector at SDI, said: “Scottish exporters have demonstrated enormous resilience over the past few years and it’s great to see Angels’ Share’s commitment to international market development paying off with the signing of its largest international order to date.
“The company’s agile approach has allowed it to capitalise on a significant opportunity in Asia and, thanks to our trade and in-market specialists, we were able to quickly connect them to the right support to get this project over the line.”
Angels’ Share Glass will now up-scale production by extending the hours of its glassmakers who work in the firm’s Bridge of Allan studio and at independent glassmaking workshops across Scotland.
The business has also employed a Chinese student from the University of Stirling to focus on ensuring the giftware’s labelling is accurate, while also establishing the firm on Chinese social media channels such as WeChat.
Somerville added: “The import agreement will give us much more global reach, but is not without its challenges, such as hugely up-scaling production during what is already a traditionally busy time for us, as existing customers place large orders for the festive season.
“Packaging is also proving a logistical problem for many firms just now due to supply issues – however this is a major opportunity which we are looking forward to making the most of and I know everyone will pull together to ensure it is a real success.
“We’ve come a long way since start-up when we worked from a garden glassmaking studio and I’m incredibly proud of my team and all we have achieved in the last nine years.”
Angels’ Share Glass was launched by Somerville and her father, master glassblower Tom Young MBE, in April 2013.
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