Brand marketing specialist Wild Thang has invested £2m in its headquarters and has pledged to double its workforce – and now that expansion is under way. Tony McDonough reports
Brand marketing specialist Wild Thang has started the process of doubling its team as it steps up its multi-million pound expansion plan.
Based in Bootle close to the River Mersey, Wild Thang manufactures and supplies a full range of branded marketing materials. Its blue-chip clients have included Sky Bet, Paddy Power, Wembley Stadium and Liverpool and Everton football clubs.
Managing director Andrew Dwerryhouse has just overseen a £2m transformation of its Derby Road headquarters which saw the site expanded and new manufacturing technology installed.
In July Andrew told LBN it was intention to double the company’s headcount over the next year or so as it looks to meet growing demand from clients both in the UK and overseas. It’s current headcount is more than 30 and his ambition is to grow this number to around 60.
Wild Thang is now looking to fill the first of those roles and is seeking a purchasing administrator, sales and shipping administrator and is adding to its inbound sales and customer services team.
Andrew, who started the business 20 years ago with a £1,500 Prince’s Trust grant, said Wild Thang had taken a hit during the pandemic but had now come roaring back. He explained: “In the first few weeks we saw activity fall off a cliff.
“During the first lockdown the fantastic team here produced branded t-shirts which we used to raise money for NHS charities. We don’t stand still here – it is what we call ‘the Wild Thang way’.
“Those initial few weeks were scary. We had already committed to investing £2m to transform our headquarters so there was a nervousness about what would happen in the weeks and months to follow. Brexit added a further complication as we have customers in the EU.”
By June 2020 its customers were starting to come back again and the team adapted to the demands of the pandemic by producing a range of branded protection merchandise including face masks and snoods,
“When we looked at the full-year figures including that period our revenues were only down by around 15% – which we think is pretty impressive in the circumstances,” Andrew added.
“By the end of the year we felt confident enough to invest a further £120,000 in new manufacturing technology which has really boosted our capabilities. Now business has really picked up and we have just launched our Christmas range – maybe landing a job here could be the perfect Christmas gift for someone.
With the UK now accelerating its push towards net zero carbon, Wild Thang is also looking to do its bit by growing its range of eco-friendly products. Andrew said: “Our eco product range has never been bigger. We recognise it is now more important than ever.
“We are now starting the process of taking Wild Thang to the next level. We will continue to grow the team over the coming months and we will also be aiming to grow our footprint internationally.
“I’m proud of the way our team has adapted to the challenges posed by Brexit. We have done so well in that area that Liverpool Chamber of Commerce selected us to take part in a video illustrating how we have become an exemplar in trading overseas post-Brexit.
“We have adapted quickly to the new environment and that has also been recognised by the chamber in its forthcoming Innovation in Business Awards in which we are one of the finalists.”