Family-owned wholesale gifts and home decor supplier Widdop & Co is preparing for its next phase with the fifth-generation members of the Illingworth family – Stephen and Daniel – taking ownership of the business as joint MDs, in a deal supported by financial services company Shawbrook.
Stephen and Daniel said: “We’re excited to begin the next phase of Widdop following the transfer of ownership. We’ve gained significant experience working in the family business for 15 years and are looking forward to continuing and growing the family legacy further.
“Shawbrook has been key to this transfer, and we’re grateful that they had an intimate understanding of the business and the funding required. We feel that they’ve truly understood us and have been flexible in order to accommodate us. Their support and speed have also made the process so much smoother.”
Founded in 1883 by William Widdop and recently celebrating its 140th year, Widdop & Co is an award-winning gift supplier with a product range of over 8,000 skus spread across 12 categories and 26 brands. Key products include clocks, candles, figurines, cards, puzzles, photo frames and albums.
The company, based in a purpose-built factory in Manchester, operates a UK and Asian design team with over 80 years of cumulative sourcing experience. This allows it to innovate quickly and exclusively from a supply base of more than 200 factories.
Shawbrook director Matt Greenhalgh said: “It’s been fantastic working with Daniel and Stephen to help them through this transfer from one generation to the next. They’re well versed in their business, and we look forward to watching them continue to grow the brand for years to come. We’re pleased we were able to offer a bespoke structure that enables the smooth transfer of ownership and creates a fantastic foundation in which to continue to grow this long-running business.”
