Twelve months on the company has opened its first school uniform shop on Harrogate’s Tower Street and has secured contracts to supply seven of the town’s primary schools.

Another major contract to supply a completely new uniform design to all year groups at Stokesley High School kept his manufacturing team busy throughout the summer and helped to earn Emblazon a reputation for high quality garments and good customer service.

“I always knew I would market my products by offering more competitive prices and better quality than other suppliers but once I opened the shop in Harrogate in June I realised that people were also looking for friendly staff and that we needed to be really sharp on customer service,” explained Gary.

He has made sure the shop is welcoming and well-stocked and he has launched a website allowing customers to order online as well as by phone or in person.

“The fact that we operate the manufacturing and the retail side of the business means we have complete control over every aspect of the business and can turn around orders very quickly,” said Gary.

The factory’s embroidery department has expanded by 50 per cent since Gary bought the company and the screen printing side of the business has increased by 30 per cent.

Turnover is up 40 per cent and he now employs eight staff on the manufacturing side. Gary hopes this will grow further and anticipates moving to bigger premises in three years.

The school uniform side has been a runaway success and Gary hopes to win contracts to supply more Harrogate schools over the coming months. He has also expanded the corporate side of the business, visiting the firm’s existing clients up and down the country and offering a wider range of services.

“I discovered that we supplied five per cent of the potential business for one firm but now we supply 100 per cent of their requirements.”

Harrogate born and bred, Gary is enjoying working in the town and supplying Harrogate schools and businesses but in the long term he hopes to build the business further.

“In the short term I’d like to open another shop in Stokesley to service the school there and some of the local primary schools in that area,” said Gary.

“The long term plan is to have shops across the UK as franchised Emblazon businesses ordering through our factory in Yorkshire.”