Vintage venture is set for further expansion

14/03/2012

A businessman who began by selling his own clothes on eBay has now completed the next phase of his company’s expansion with the help of Garness Jones.

Riccardo Seaton hopes the move will provide the platform for further growth for The Vintage Wholesale Company by supporting retail expansion around the UK.

Garness Jones completed a deal with Riccardo during 2011 for warehouse space at 2 Viking Close, Willerby, as his business outgrew premises in East Hull.

Now Riccardo has also taken 1a Viking Close, which provides an additional 800 square feet of space including – crucially – four parking spaces.

“The parking is a Godsend because at our old place there was a one-hour limit,” said Riccardo.

“We’ve also got much better access for our deliveries and more space in the warehouse for customers to browse our stock.”

Riccardo’s interest in clothes developed from selling items to hoarding them, which led him to then try wholesaling. After two years getting the business off the ground he made a major breakthrough by agreeing deals with some of the industry’s top suppliers – and by securing a funding package through the Sirius Business Advice Centre and Barclays Bank.

“It was a gamble but the company has gone from strength to strength, even through a recession,” said Riccardo.

The success is down to a combination of factors – finding exclusive suppliers, selling through such prominent outlets as Topshop and Urban Outfitters and – most important of all – knowing what customers want.

“The kids of today don’t want to look the same – they want to have their own, individual look and put their own stamp on who they are,” said Riccardo.

“We allow them to do that because we sell one-off pieces, not repeat, manufactured products.

“What we offer our customers is the chance to come and hand-pick their own clothes, piece by piece. We sell on a unit basis, unlike other places where people have to buy blind and by weight.”

“At the moment our priority is to supply our wholesale customers with the best vintage clothing we can get them,” said Riccardo.

Dale Gooderham, Associate Director for Industrial at Garness Jones, said: “It’s fascinating to see how Riccardo has made such a success of his business by coming up with some really innovative ideas.

“It was good news when he took the first unit in Viking Close and to expand again so soon is a sign of how well the business is doing.”

Website:  www.thevintagewholesalecompany.com.