West Midlands furniture manufacturer, Boss Design, has boosted its presence in the Middle East after securing a £500,000 order with support from the Department for International Trade (DIT).

Boss Design, established in 1983, designs and manufactures high-end furniture including seats, chairs and pods for workspaces and the hospitality, retail and leisure sectors. Its products are featured in universities, businesses and airlines across Europe, the US and the Middle East. The contract is to supply one of the world’s biggest Middle Eastern banks with £500,000 worth of branded and bespoke seating and furniture. It is one of Boss Design’s most valuable contracts in the Middle East to date and its products will appear in the bank’s branches across the country.

Boss Design has a well-established local presence in the Middle East, with a manufacturing facility located in Dubai. Exports currently account for approximately 15 per cent of its £40million annual turnover and the business expects this percentage to increase significantly by the end of 2018.

Philip Duggan at Boss Design, said:

“We pride ourselves on being pioneers in design, with the aim of creating innovative solutions for commercial spaces that are attractive and functional. From design to manufacture, our products are British-stamped, and this has been crucial to our success in the US and the Middle East where there is real demand for British goods of high quality and design.

“We have inevitably faced some challenges when increasing our exports, such as preparing for and navigating changes to tax and currency fluctuations. However, teaming up with the advisers at DIT has made things less complex. They offer a really clear explanation of exporting for our target markets and have also introduced us to key contacts. If we can successfully get our products to the Middle East, so can other West Midlands businesses.”

Ian Harrison, Head of Exports, The Midlands, Department for International Trade, said:

“Demand for and desirability of British products in locations such as the Middle East is growing. The contract with a large Middle Eastern Bank is a huge achievement for Boss Design and represents a significant opportunity for the business.

“Businesses looking to tap into the opportunities in the Middle East should get in touch with us at DIT, where we have 31 international trade advisers in the West Midlands committed to helping local businesses expand to new locations.”

Companies can find information and a current list of opportunities through visiting great.gov.uk or contacting:

DIT West Midlands

E: wmenquiries@mobile.trade.gov.uk

T: 0345 222 0159