Our 10th year in business

Blackburn based manufacturer, Clear Prospects is celebrating after reaching its 10 year milestone since the launch of its first product, The JetRest® Travel Pillow which is now an award winning, must have accessory endorsed by many celebrities including avid adventurer, Ben Fogle.

Founder and Director of Clear Prospects Michael Robinson actually invented and designed the ergonomic travel pillow following his own travels and it was following a PR story in the Sunday Times newspaper 10 years ago that The JetRest® became an overnight hit. Now, it is one of the best selling travel pillows available in the UK and just one of many products that Michael successfully manufactures in his own Blackburn textile factory and sells through one of his growing number of specialist web sites at thejetrest.com.

Looking back at the start of business Michael said: “This was a very exciting time for us as we’d set up our own factory here in the UK and were not only selling our products online but they were proving a great success with retailers too. The business thrived but in order to develop further, we needed to look at additional products to complement the range. thejetrest.com was born and 10 years later we now have a vast range of all things travel related – from one of the most extensive selections of eye masks available, to our own manufactured personalised luggage straps, from ear plugs to blankets and MozzyOff insect repellent, the list is endless !”

Michael notes that the past 10 years have not always been easy but the business blueprint he developed is one that has been flexible enough to adapt to changing markets and to embrace new technology and ideas along the way. The business became a big player on the promotional merchandise scene and the focus on all products being ‘British Made’ was a winning combination.

Michael added: “Supplying retailers and the trade with merchandise certainly worked for us but as time has moved on, I realise that without a doubt, the way forward is one purely of specialist online sales. This is the strategy we have adopted and have already seen the successful launch of two new websites, wheatybags.co.uk and happysnapgifts.co.uk where we are extending our manufacture skills into new product development, or enhancing the range of products the consumer demands through personalisation.

Backed by a highly skilled technical team, Michael is confident that the next 10 years will be just as strong as the last. With social media, cross marketing of the websites and developing the ever increasing loyal database, Michael certainly has ‘Clear Prospects’ for the future.

For corporate information, please visit clearprospects.com, or better still have a look at the consumer offering through thejetrest.com, wheatybags.co.uk or happysnapgifts.co.uk or one of the trade web sites britishmadepromotionalmerchandise.co.uk call Michael to chat on 08707 391 591.

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