A Manchester-based headwear designer and supplier has signed over 40 clients, including two of the biggest NHS cancer trusts in the country, after only four months of trading.
Avakino started trading in November 2016. Since then, the company has secured contracts to supply products from its Masumi Headwear brand to Maggie’s Centre at the Christie Hospital Manchester as well as the York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust’s Cancer Care Centres in Scarborough and York.
With its Masumi range of products, Avakino are also now the top headwear supplier to one of the biggest online retailers in the UK. In addition, the company has secured distributors in Denmark, Spain, Sweden, France, Ireland and New York, and is currently designing and creating an exclusive collection of Masumi products for the Teenage Cancer Trust. Finally, Avakino has recently begun collaborations with the University of Salford and the Santander banking group.
This success came off the back of a range of support from Business Growth Hub, part of Manchester Growth Company, to Avakino’s founder, Ali Nowroozi. Following initial meetings with his Hub advisor, Isabelle Farquhar, Ali went on training courses to improve his knowledge of various business areas such as employment law, intellectual property and market research among others.
Due to Avakino’s fast growth, Ali is now planning to take on employees and move into dedicated business premises as he continues to expand the business.
Ali Nowroozi, founder of Avakino, said; “As a new entrepreneur, I could never imagine we would be where we are in such a short period of time. I strongly believe we have only managed to achieve so much because we had such great support behind us.
“Of course, this starts with the support of my wonderful family, along with working with the best, and that is Business Growth Hub. They have given me great one to one support, so much expertise and the right network of contacts needed to succeed.
“My adviser, Isabelle, has been a fantastic support. She always understood the core of the business well and has been behind us passionately. I class her as my business advisor, who watches over our shoulder to ensure we have the right foundation for our business and are growing in the right way. Whenever I have a question, I know she is there to help me, and if she does not have the answer, she puts me in contact with the person who can help. I really could not thank her enough for what she has done for us!
Ali continues to say: “Our company is driven with care and passion for those who go through hair loss. Our duty is to educate and to empower women, men and children.”
Isabelle Farquhar, Avakino’s adviser at Business Growth Hub, said; “Avakino has achieved a fantastic level of growth within a specialist niche sector in a short period of time.
“Seeing the success Avakino’s Masumi brand has achieved has been particularly pleasing, too, given that Ali’s work helps those who are currently undergoing treatment for cancer, as well as those who have alopecia. Knowing that Ali is helping those who are going through a difficult time is very rewarding.”
For more information on the Masumi range of products, please visit www.masumiheadwear.com.
Businesses looking to access specialist support can visit www.businessgrowthhub.com for more information about our extensive range of services. This and other Business Growth Hub projects are part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the GM Business Growth Hub project designed to help ambitious SME businesses achieve growth and increase employment in Greater Manchester.