Bradbury Tracks, a family-business based in High Wycombe, manufactures high-end bespoke curtain tracks and poles for interior designers and major high-street retailers, as well as trade fitters and DIY specialists.

A Growth Grant from Buckinghamshire Business First was used to help fund an innovative and bespoke website which has increased sales and conversions, ensuring the customer experience is greatly improved.

Bradbury Tracks have been trading for 50 years. Their lead times are the fastest in the industry because of the innovations and technology they use. “From taking the customer’s measurements, making sure it’s all accurate first time, to delivering it at their door, we guarantee a service which basically means that we ask the customer when they need it, rather than stating a lead time to them,” explained Kris Theophanous, Managing Director.

Kris credits lean management principles as one of the driving forces behind the company’s success. Their ‘two-second lean’ process challenges all staff to find small improvements every day in their business processes.

"Given us the ability to put our ideas into action"

“We’re constantly trying to improve our efficiency,” said Kris. “We’d been thinking about a new website for our business which could make it as easy and quick as possible to order our made-to-measure curtain tracks and poles online. This was a vital project for our business and required a complex, bespoke and costly design.

“After a conversation with Buckinghamshire Business First, we applied for a Growth Grant to help us fund the web development work. Everyone we spoke to at Buckinghamshire Business First knew exactly what we wanted and exactly how to go about it, which just made everything very, very simple.”

Buckinghamshire Business First’s Growth Programme is all about helping businesses that have been established for a while and have high growth potential to get their business to the next stage. Growth Grants of between £1,000 and £2,500 are available to aid investment in projects to increase sales, productivity or profitability, or improve business processes.

“The Growth Grant we received from Buckinghamshire Business First has given us the ability to put our ideas into action," said Kris. "We were able to add the grant funding to the money we had available to make the perfect new website. It’s been a fantastic catalyst for change for our business.”

“The Growth Grant allowed us to add extra into the project, making it a perfect site,” said Kris. “It’s had a considerable impact on our business. We’ve increased sales by 40% and our conversions have also increased, making the customer journey much smoother. We’ve doubled our staff from eight people up to 16 and we’re looking to employ a further two people to cope with future growth.

“Business is good and the Growth Grant has been a fantastic catalyst for change for our business.”

How can the Growth Programme help your business?

The Buckinghamshire Business First Growth Programme helps SMEs access expert advice, business support and grants in order to accelerate growth.

For more information, visit our Growth Programme homepage.