• Thu. Mar 28th, 2024

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Belford Business Completes Bahrain Artificial Tree Project

Treelocate WorkshopA global Northumberland business and North East Chamber of Commerce (NECC) member is doing the equivalent of taking coals to Newcastle and has just completed a £275k tropical tree order for the Middle East.

Treelocate, based in Belford outside Berwick, exports artificial plants and trees to leisure and hospitality clients around the world and one of its most recent contracts was for 17 seven metre olive trees for the 7* Four Seasons Hotel in Bahrain.

Established in a small barn by brothers Mark and Jonny Nesbitt in 1995 after they bought a consignment of artificial trees from Asia, the business has grown to employ 40 people.  It is now a £4m turnover business which manufactures products from large scale, bespoke flower arrangements to handmade trees and shrubs, from a four acre site.

Treelocate has used the NECC International trade team since it started exporting to help them with their business.

Mark said: “We initially worked with interior landscapers and supplied quite simple products for offices where live trees would have struggled to survive.  Our customer base then expanded to include a huge range of outlets such as garden centres, USA theme parks and supermarkets.  The Chamber has been a great support to us right from the outset. They helped us ensure we had all our ducks lined up so gave us confidence payment  would come in at the right time for our contracts.”

Brian Dakers, International Trade Manager, NECC said: “Tree Locate is a really innovative business which flies the flag for our region.  We help them send their products safely and cost-effectively to some of the world’s most spectacular places.  Our advice has supported them in getting benefit from EU Free Trade Agreements, enabling the business to price competitively using originating materials and passing on financial benefits to customers in a range of markets with which the EU has preferential arrangements.”

The global reach of Treelocate extends to Dubai International Airport and a recent project for the head office of ANZ Bank in Christchurch.   And in keeping with the company’s contracts with unusual countries, where it might not be expected to have artificial planting, it has also supplied artificial trees to Norway.

To help cope with increased demand from the Middle East, four years ago Treelocate set up a Dubai office with six people based there and it also has an agent in Mongolia who specialises in shopping centre contracts using their service.

They have also developed their own brand to make the various trees and foliage called ‘firesilx’ which is fire retardant and UVsilx for exterior locations where the products need to be tough and not fade.

By admin