Alnwick luxury hamper firm Heather & Bale boosted by £50,000 investment

Heather & Bale sells a range of luxury handcrafted hampers and gifts to private and corporate clients right across the country, with the vast majority of its products being sourced from local independent producers.

Based in Alnwick, the business was set up by co-directors Carolyn Wilson, Susan Smith and Laura Millar in spring 2020, right at the start of the pandemic.

Despite the various restrictions and the hurdles of remote working, the team maintained its commitment to fulfilling orders, helping customers bridge the distance between friends and family when physical presence wasn’t possible, and managed to completely sell out of the first online product range several weeks before Christmas.

The business has continued to grow organically since, and it has now worked with regional fund management firm NEL Fund Managers to bring in the capital it needs to accelerate its growth.

The £50,000 investment will be used to upgrade the business’s digital marketing and advertising campaigns, as well as to support recruitment as the business grows.

It will also help further enhance the company’s presence in the corporate gifting sector, where it already works with clients including Paul Smith, Accenture and Broadchare Partners.

As well as selling via their own www.heatherandbale.co.uk website, Heather & Bale also features on other well-known online platforms, including Not On The High Street, Yumbles and FodaBox, and stocks around 150 different artisan gift designs and hundreds of artisan products at any one time.

The Heather & Bale management team was introduced to NEL by Geoff Maclauchlan at the Rural Business Growth Service.

Carolyn Wilson said: “Our commitment to delivering high quality products has always been central to our journey. We carefully select items that resonate with our own values, prioritise products that are a treat for the senses and maintain a shared commitment to sustainability.

“The success we’ve achieved so far speaks volumes about the effectiveness of this approach and underscores how this commitment to purposeful sourcing distinguishes us from others in our industry.

"When we first started this adventure, we didn't fully realise how many amazing independent producers were on our doorstep. Collaborating with this community of artisans sparks our creativity, and is opening up many ideas and avenues that we’re eager to explore.

“We are now at the stage where we have developed a signature style and product range that resonates perfectly with our target audience. Our focus now is on unlocking the potential for growth within our business by attracting and retaining an expanding customer base.

“The support we received from the NEL team during the investment application process was invaluable, and as we prepare for what promises to be our busiest season, we are excited about the future that lies ahead.”

Jonathan Armitage, investment executive at NEL Fund Managers, adds: “The product quality that Heather & Bale and its North East suppliers offer really make it stand out from the crowd and we’re very pleased to be working with a business that places such importance on our home region.”

The North East Small Loan Fund is supported by The European Regional Development Fund.

For more information visit www.nel.co.uk or contact the investment team on 0345 369 7007.