Member Article

Booming overseas sales animate Manchester creatives

Manchester creative business Animation Toolkit is reporting a surge in overseas business after more than doubling sales in 2013.

The firm, run by 33-year-old Westley Wood, supplies specialist products for stop-motion animation including animating clay, software and armature kits and parts used to make animation figures.

It has been supported by start-up specialist and Deansgate-based business advice and accountancy firm Mitchell Charlesworth.

Mr Wood, who started the venture two years ago, distributes his products to every continent and has manufacturing agreements with four factories in China and one in Germany.

The firm has more than doubled its sales in 2013 with overseas revenue accounting for an ever increasing amount of the company’s turnover.

Animation Toolkit is now hatching plans to open the first stop-motion animation studio for hire in MediaCityUK, containing the firm’s complete assortment of products for use by professionals, enthusiasts and students.

Mr Wood said: “Animation is my passion and I have always been fascinated by the process of creating stop-motion films.I started designing my own pieces of kit and came up with the idea of Animation Toolkit. It began as a bedroom business and, with advice and on-going support from Mitchell Charlesworth, I have been able to develop a strategic business plan.

“We have made huge progress since 2011, shipping products across the globe. The rise of e-commerce has been crucial to our business, as many people order products from our website. To date we have calculated that our products have been used in more than 5,000 films.”

Animation Toolkit has been crowned with a volley of awards this year including the “Next Big Thing” at the MEN’s inaugural MPA Awards, celebrating the region’s creative, digital and media companies.

Mr Wood, who also works as a creative for Children’s ITV, was nominated for a BAFTA for his work on the programme Compost Corner.

In October, he was shortlisted for the Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award and was shortlisted for Best Start Up at the EN Business Awards 2013.

Mitchell Charlesworth’s Manchester-based audits and accounts specialist Paul Burton said: “It has been a terrific experience working alongside Westley helping his animation business grow. We have been able to support Animation Toolkit on its journey by providing solid commercial foundations and strong financial management to build the business.

“We always take a hands on approach. Key areas we can help start-ups include book-keeping, corporation taxation planning, self-assessment income tax returns, VAT, PAYE and national insurance, pensions and business insurance, grant funding, raising finance and payroll services.

“We also advised Westley on the approach to accounting for commissions, to help strike a partnership to make joint products with world famous animator Ray Harryhauser. This exclusive deal has greatly helped to drive company sales.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .