Rapid expansion for Boe House after securing funding package
Boe House, the owner of Baby Box Shop, has significantly expanded its business after receiving a £160,000 funding package from Rosebud Finance, Lancashire County Council’s investment vehicle delivered by GC Business Finance, in June 2020.
The Lancashire business, based in Thornton, sells pre-filled and ready-made gift boxes for babies and parents, helping to reduce stress for those looking for gifts. Last year, Boe House secured the loan to help it create jobs and increase export sales following support from Lancashire’s Access to Finance team.
Since receiving the loan, Boe House has been able to create five new full-time jobs in the region, employing two new staff to its warehouse and three to its production line, as well as an additional part-time employee.
These new hires have been necessary to support demand for the gift boxes, which has significantly increased since the beginning of the pandemic. While Brexit had an impact on demand within the EU, interest was exacerbated in the US, surpassing budgeted sales.
To further support this expansion, Boe House has invested in a new embroidery machine as it prepares to launch a personalisation range, and more new ranges including a nappy caddy, individually boxed toys and comforters, and high-quality muslins.
It is also making its products more widely available, expanding from Amazon Marketplace to list on eBay and Etsy. Meanwhile, its translation of the Boe House website into more languages is making it easier for customers based abroad to place orders.
Owen Burrows, director of Boe House, said: “The loan we received from Rosebud Finance was a turning point for Boe House, and enabled us to make our ambitions of expansion a reality. Without this loan, the rise in demand over the last 12 months may have been overwhelming, but the support of Jonathan, Caroline and the rest of the Rosebud team gave us the confidence to develop new products and means of distribution.
“There’s plenty in the pipeline for Boe House, and we’re looking forward to the launch of our new website both in the UK and abroad, as well as helping to make gift-buying less stressful for our loyal and new customers.”
Jonathan Nelson, senior loans manager at Rosebud Finance, said: “The growth Boe House has witnessed over the last 12 months is testament to the quality of its products. Owen and Kim have taken the challenges thrown at them in their stride, and it’s fantastic to see the Lancashire business moving forward with such momentum, creating jobs in the region and committing to ensuring quality of its products.”
County Councillor Aidy Riggott, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Growth, Lancashire County Council, said: “Creating jobs is the key purpose of the Rosebud fund, so it’s great to see that our loan helped Boe House to employ five full-time staff in the area. Despite the challenges presented by the pandemic, Owen and Kim have demonstrated the tenacity of entrepreneurs in our region, and we’re looking forward to seeing how they continue to expand globally, putting Lancashire on the map as a hub for successful businesses.”
