UKTI helps new luxury goods company find international success

Fast facts Company: Dom Reilly Ltd Industry: Luxury Consumer Goods Target Market: China, Japan, US UKTI Services: Passport to Export www.domreilly.com

New UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) client Dom Reilly Ltd is fast discovering the benefits of exporting to overseas markets following their recent launch of luxury travel goods in association with the Williams F1 Team and Singapores Raffles Hotel. With the assistance of UKTI, Dom Reilly have started to tap further into their international potential as they currently complete their Passport to Export journey. The Passport to Export programme is a service designed to help new and inexperienced exporters succeed overseas. After 8 years of working with the Williams F1 Team, Dominic Reilly, Founder of Dom Reilly, sourced his inspiration for the company while travelling around the world. Seeing a gap in the luxury travel goods market, he noticed that business travellers either used functional or fashion-label luggage.

From this, he set out to make a range of travel accessories which was both aesthetically stylish but also functional for travelling business executives. Working in partnership with Williams, Mr Reilly applied the mentality and culture of F1 to his new business insisting on creating the best and always seeking innovative solutions. Following from this successful partnership, Dom Reilly won a prestigious contract with Raffles Hotel, launching its exclusive collection in Singapore in September 2013. Mr Reilly appreciates the benefit of securing contracts with esteemed companies such as Raffles, considering them invaluable in establishing the products and brand overseas. The challenge of competing with well-established luxury fashion houses, some with over a century of heritage, was one we were able to resolve by creating specialist collections with Williams F1, Raffles hotel and more recently, The Financial Times.

We wanted to stand out as something new and innovative within the industry. We found that working with wellestablished partners significantly helped not only our sales, but also our reputation as a new business. This proved essential in entering new markets. With the assistance of UKTI Singapore, Dom Reilly achieved press coverage in Singapore, further promoting their success in the market. Since their launch, Reilly is fully appreciating the benefits of exporting to overseas markets. The business now sees an increase in their export revenue. Securing contracts overseas Weve found that the Raffles collection is our biggest-selling range overseas, however this is not limited to what is directly sold within the Raffles hotel. Weve found that guests of the hotel are buying our products online; were now receiving orders from around the world from Los Angeles to Tokyo.

 As a new, fast-growing business, we wish to utilise the programmes and opportunities UKTI has to offer, and assess how we can grow globally.
Dominic Reilly, Founder of Dom Reilly Ltd

Helping you to do business abroad Doing business in another country can be a challenge, so its good to know that UK Trade & Investment is there to help you succeed. Through a range of unique services, including participation at selected trade fairs, overseas missions and providing bespoke market intelligence, UK Trade & Investment can help you crack foreign markets and quickly get to grips with regulations and business practices overseas. Through our Passport to Export programme we offer new and inexperienced exporters: Free capability assessments Support in visiting potential markets Mentoring from a local export professional Free action plans Customised and subsidised training Ongoing support once youre up and running UKTI was delighted to support Dom Reilly in its business overseas. To find an adviser in your chosen market and begin your own success story now, scan this code with your smartphone, visit www.ukti.gov.uk, or call +44(0)20 7215 5000 UK Trade & Investment is the Government Department that helps UK-based companies succeed in the global economy. We also help overseas companies bring their highquality investment to the UKs dynamic economy. We provide companies with the tools they require to be competitive on the world stage.

Following their success in Singapore, Dom South East International Trade Adviser, Reilly is looking to further expand across Roope Aaltonen said: the Far East with the help of UKTI. In It is great to see how the combination of October 2013, Dom Reilly travelled to great products, as well-planned and Japan as part of the GREAT Weeks structured approach, and hard work and Fashion Showcase in Tokyo. While in commitment can put Dom Reilly, a Tokyo, they took part in exhibitions, relatively new brand, on its way to fast attended appointments with buyers and becoming a global name. I look forward media and met with British Embassy to continue working with the firm as they officials. Further to their time spent in achieve further success in overseas Japan, Reilly is maintaining a relationship markets. with Japanese retailers and distributors, with hopes to launch their Spring/Summer 2015 collection in the market. The export advantage Entering new markets International trade has always played an We see Japan in particular as a vital market for us to work with. Not only is it a lucrative market with a thriving fashion industry, but we also found that British brands are highly sought after. It is also a wonderful place to visit and I really admire their business culture which is very honourable. Dom Reilly has found that UKTI services and programmes provide great opportunities for their business to grow internationally. As a new, fast-growing business, we wish to utilise the programmes and opportunities UKTI has to offer, and assess how we can grow globally. There are sure to be both opportunities and obstacles in our export plans that we have not yet considered which is why weve found the continued support and advice from our International Trade Adviser, Roope Aaltonen vital and important.

important role in the UK economy. Today it accounts for almost 20 per cent of the nations GDP. Exporting can be challenging, but the benefits can be the difference between profit and loss. Research carried out by UKTI shows that:

companies that export become 34 per cent more productive in the first year alone 59 per cent of companies that exported either developed a new product or service or modified an existing one 85 per cent of companies reported that exporting led to a level of growth not otherwise possible 87 per cent said exporting had significantly improved their profile or credibility 73 per cent said exporting had increased the commercial lifespan of products or services For more information, please go to www.ukti.gov.uk/export

" There are sure to be both opportunities and obstacles in our export plans that we have not yet considered which is why weve found the continued support and advice from our International Trade Adviser vital and important.
Dominic Reilly, Founder of Dom Reilly Ltd

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