South Tyneside manufacturer powers up for growth with export demand

A South Tyneside manufacturing firm has expanded operations since growing its international footprint through exporting.

Cell Pack Solutions is set to sell 25 per cent of its product in overseas markets following its entry into exporting.

Founded in 2001, Cell Pack Solutions manufactures portable power units for a range of sectors, including film and TV, emergency services, utility companies and the armed forces.

Based in South Shields, the firm has worked with the Department for International Trade and enrolled in the North East Export Academy in order to expand its horizons internationally.

Eddie Czestochowski, Cell Pack Solutions founder, commented: “It’s fair to say we were [a] reluctant exporter. It didn’t interest me, we had grown our client list and, apart from the odd product we’d send abroad, it was all UK-based business. Exports seemed time-consuming, complex and just not something that I was interested in exploring.

“Our education in exports started when Cell Pack purchased Tracer Power, which exported a large percentage of its products. We not only had to transport the new business to our headquarters in South Shields, we also had to suddenly learn how to sell overseas…quickly.

“And it has been an incredibly rapid journey. At Christmas 2020, I knew absolutely nothing about exports, let alone the impact Brexit may have, to three months later when we’re selling 15 per cent of our products overseas and that will grow to 25 per cent in the coming year.”

Julie Underwood, executive director of international trade at North East England Chamber of Commerce, added: “It is fantastic that the DIT was able to provide such a positive experience to Eddie when Cell Pack faced a steep learning curve to understand the intricacies of exporting.

“Whatever a business does, wherever it wants to sell and whoever it wants to make contact with, the DIT international trade advisors are here to help, and, as with Cell Pack, we can provide immediate support to address specific issues.

“I’d like to wish Eddie and Cell Pack the best of luck in all their export endeavours and we very much look forward to helping them continue to grow.”