A packaging supplier has secured £50,000 worth of orders from new customers in the Netherlands, after help from the government.

Aylesford-based Priory Direct sealed the deal after the Department for International Trade (DIT) helped identify the country as a high-potential overseas market.

The Kent firm supplies labels, packaging and warehouse supplies to e-commerce businesses. Its customer base includes small start-up businesses, as well as large retail brands such as River Island and Hotel Chocolat.

After receiving enquiries from potential new customers in countries from Belgium through to Sweden, the business worked with the DIT to develop an export strategy to take advantage of the opportunities.

Having identified the Netherlands, DIT supported Priory Direct to capitalise on the opportunity, including upgrading its logistics to offer the same single-day dispatch it offers to UK-based customers.

Priory Direct has now secured £50,000 worth of orders from Dutch customers including Parfumswinkel and Card Vision BV. The company is experiencing 30% year-on-year annual turnover growth and has forecast £7.2million annual turnover in 2019, up from £5.5million in 2018.

Josh Pitman, managing director at Priory Direct, said: “The calibre of advice DIT can offer has been a game changer for our business in terms of exporting.

“In this digital age, it’s becoming easier than ever to access customers right across the globe, and it can sometimes be difficult to know where to start. Working with DIT has helped us to find the markets that were right for us and run an effective exporting operation."

Ben Raby, head of the south east at DIT, said: “We’d encourage any business considering exporting to get in touch. We have international trade advisers on hand throughout the south east region to guide businesses at every stage of their export journey. DIT also has staff on the ground in over 100 countries to eliminate trade barriers linked to legislation, tax, labelling requirements, and other factors.”

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