Meet the finalists of the Scale-Up Business of the Year Award, sponsored by Ashtons Legal. This category at the Suffolk Business Awards 2021 is looking for demonstrations of entrepreneurial prowess that elevate the status and success of the brand.
Primal Raw
Based at Dales Court Business Centre in Ipswich, Primal Raw is a specialist pet shop doing business in a sustainable, customer-focused manner. With experienced staff, a large variety of UK brands, natural treats, herbal supplements, grooming products and more, Primal Raw prides itself on being the ideal destination for pet owners in Suffolk. The brand also offers home delivery across East Anglia and nationwide courier delivery.
The judges said: “There are few better examples of a business that has grown and been shaped by the desire to provide a brilliant product with an ambition to serve the end-user with a best-in-class offering. Primal Raw has seen strong growth over the past three years and enjoys a healthy forecast for the next three years. We have no doubt this will be enabled by Lucy’s passion for her product and the team that makes Primal Raw such an energised business.”
Caribbean Blinds UK
Caribbean Blinds UK is the UK’s leading supplier of external shading systems. From its headquarters in Sudbury, its 24-strong team designs, manufactures and installs innovative patio awnings, external blinds and louvered roofs for homeowners and businesses across the country. Transforming the use, functionality and enjoyment of all types of spaces, its products are engineered and built to last with a five-year guarantee.
The judges said: “Caribbean Blinds has netted a staggering set of numbers and a forecast growth that cannot fail to impress. This has been achieved through a clear focus on purpose, a clear focus on reviewing and simplifying the product range, and a clear focus on delivering a first-class service. We were really impressed with Stuart’s passion for taking a family-run business and supercharging it with his entrepreneurial approach.”
Cosy Aromas
Cosy Aromas is a manufacturer and retailer of scented home fragrance products that employs 16 people across its Ipswich headquarters and two retail stores. Founded in 2018 by husband and wife Tamar and Paul Mayne, the business has grown from a kitchen to a 10,000sqft warehouse where it manufactures wax melts, candles and room sprays and distributes to customers throughout the UK and Europe.
The judges said: “Paul and Tamar have managed to create a vibrant, thriving enterprise based on scent that the consumer experiences online. Through community, innovation, smart creations and the extension of their product range, it has built strong audience relationships and is in a strong place to expand overseas.”
SewProCrafts
SewProCrafts is a family-run business established in 2016 by mother and son, Tracey and Joshua Knights. The online retailer of craft and haberdashery essentials features brands such as Clover, Gütermann, Fiskars, KnitPro, Singer and Cricut. The business has grown rapidly, now employing 16 people with warehouse and office space in Bramford and selling to more than 250,000 customers all over the world.
The judges said: “Joshua and his team at SewProCrafts are one of the clear success stories of being focused on the end-user and using social media to help grow and sustain a business. In the past three years, SewProCrafts has grown its numbers significantly and the next three years look similarly buoyant for the business. This is no mean feat for a company that started in a bedroom and grew rapidly into a thriving online shop. The determination, ambition and focus of the SewProCrafts business impressed us.”
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