Member Article

Emerging design entrepreneur toasts successful first year for Teesside clothing startup

South Tees-based clothing startup Bread & Butter Threads has revealed a strong first year in business.

Based in South Tees Business Centre, the business turned over £53k in its first eleven months and secured an impressive one thousand orders during the Christmas run-up.

Launched by young Teesside designer Kim Sandford, from Guisborough, the online store sells custom-made clothing including slogan T-shirts, hoodies and accessories.

The business-minded 26-year-old has grand plans to build on her early successes throughout 2017 with the hope of employing “like-minded” creatives to help the business grow later in the year.

She said: “The business is going really well. After selling just a few items a week when I first set up, I now have a fully stocked warehouse in South Tees Business Centre.

“The Christmas period was extremely busy and I sold 1,000 items in that time. It’s sometimes been a struggle but I’ve loved every minute of it. A turnover of £53k in my first year is definitely a cause for celebration.”

Kim graduated with a degree in Graphic Design from Leeds College of Art in 2012 and went on to cut her cloth in the creative sector in a number of roles as a graphic designer for Rabbit Hole, and then later on at FCT Online, both based in Leeds.

However, the desire to return to her hometown and run her own business served as the inspiration she needed to take the leap and set up Bread & Butter Threads towards the end of 2015 and she began trading in February last year.

Kim said: “I had worked within the graphic design industry since leaving university in Leeds, working on a variety of projects from branding and web design to large-scale wall art and clothing, and I continue to use all of these skills today within my own business.

“I have always wanted to be my own boss but I knew I needed to gain as much experience as possible within the industry when I left university. Last year felt like the right time to put everything I have learnt into practice and make the move to setting up my own business.”

Armed with her last pay packet and a solid business plan, Kim moved back to her beloved Tees Valley and set up the bespoke online clothing store from her home. But after a modest start which saw her receiving around 70 orders in the first month, the business has continued to grow thanks to the quality and pricing of the products.

Kim has now moved her operation to the South Tees Business Centre to accommodate an increased demand for her products – much of which comes from repeat customers, mainly in Italy.

“There’s a strong sense of community at the centre and I have worked with several businesses based here to equip them with work wear. It is a really nice environment where everyone gets along and helps promote each other in any way we can,” she said.

Kim added: “Bread & Butter Threads has enjoyed rapid growth in just a year – better than I expected, especially since moving into South Tees Business Centre. I’m looking forward to employing like-minded creatives in the near future and watching the business grow.”