The completion of a major order for Waitrose is a signal that leading design and shopfit business Stagecraft is back in full production after a disastrous fire gutted their factory in March.
The Waitrose contract, to provide 20 outdoor gardening sheds that house the grocer’s horticulture range, was ready for delivery when the fire struck, levelling the company’s factory and offices at Llaithddu, near Newtown in Mid-Wales.
Managing director Tom Davis said: ”Work fitting out 20 shops should have been completed by April but Waitrose was very understanding and helpful. We agreed a revised programme and target date which allowed us time to remake the displays and complete the fit out.”
Three months on Stagecraft, which employs more than 25 people, has relocated to a unit on the Vastre Enterprise Park in Newtown, Powys and has completed all the work destroyed in the fire, as well as commenced a number of new orders.
Originally a farm diversification project set up some 30 years ago, Stagecraft is now the UK market leader in the supply and fit-out of display equipment to garden centres, merchandiser’s, farm shops and the retail sector.
While the fire destroyed all work-in-progress and machinery, vital design drawings, orders, customer databases were backed-up to an offsite location and with the help of local suppliers Stagecraft was able to recommence limited production within days of the disaster.
“I have to thank our staff for their valiant efforts and our customers, who showed great understanding. But we have weathered the storm and are very much back on track. Now we have to focus on two major orders from Dobbies," added Tom.
