Business

Co Armagh embroidery firm announces expansion plans

Gary Winter (right) with his wife Carol and Paul Reid, Ulster Bank at the new C&G Embroidery premises
Gary Winter (right) with his wife Carol and Paul Reid, Ulster Bank at the new C&G Embroidery premises Gary Winter (right) with his wife Carol and Paul Reid, Ulster Bank at the new C&G Embroidery premises

A CO Armagh embroidery firm has announced plans to increase production by 70 per cent after a six figure investment supported by Ulster Bank.

C&G Embroidery in Richhill has invested in a new premises between Armagh and Portadown, that it says will enable the business to expand its product range and significantly boost output.

The new premises include a larger factory and a new showroom.

Set up in 2007, the company provides embroidery and printing services to the hospitality and tourism industries, schools, sports clubs and other businesses across Ireland and the UK.

C&G was founded by Gary Winter, whose family have a long history in the textiles industry. From a one machine start-up, financed by his dressmaking mother Carol, the company has grown to a staff of eight operators, making up to 600 garments per day.

The firm’s investment in an additional ‘multi-head’ embroidery machine, will see production increase by 67 per cent to reach 1,000 garments per day.

“Our customer base is continuing to grow and so too is the value of the work we are doing,” said Mr Winter.

“We’re experiencing huge demand for our services and were operating at full capacity in our old factory.

“We were limited by space which was significantly impacting on hourly and daily production output as valuable time was lost as a result of the costly process of double handling materials.

“With the support of Ulster Bank, the investment in larger premises has enabled us to streamline our processes and generate an additional two hours per day of production time. It has also provided us with the infrastructure to accommodate future growth and compete for larger contracts.”

Paul Reid, Business Development Manager at Ulster Bank, said: “Ulster Bank is very pleased to support Gary to invest in C&G Embroidery and put in place a foundation that will enable the business to continue to grow. Its new premises will help position the company as one of the premier embroidery and print specialists in Northern Ireland.

“The new facilities are designed with efficiency in mind. A streamlined factory setting will enable the company to sustain its current high output with the infrastructure and equipment to accommodate future growth.”