E-commerce producers of educational products and gifts

Reference

S11459

Turnover

Less than £0.5m

Sector(s)

Education, Retail & wholesale

Region(s)

UK Wide, Outside UK

Added

18 March 2024

Business description

The company, a family-owned business, has been in operation since 2009, producing, distributing and retailing a variety of high-quality, largely educational products for children. At present, the business is currently managed from the shareholders’ residence in the South West of England, and is easily relocated.

The company currently offers a range of 75 products, comprised of placemats, posters, scratch posters, flash cards, height charts, jigsaws, games and target sets. Their bright, engaging products aim to make learning fun, and are designed by teachers to tie in with the National Curriculum and to appeal to children, parents, and grandparents alike. Indeed, the products’ educational content is also accurate and kept up-to-date, unlike the products of even major large-brand competitors. The company also prides itself on its eco-friendly credentials, with products being 100% recyclable and predominantly manufactured in the UK. Their placemats, for example, are made from 100% recyclable polypropylene, which is water-resistant, wipe-clean, and durable (unlike competitors’ laminated paper products). The company’s posters also come with an unmatched “No Tear Guarantee”.

The company has numerous distribution channels, with the majority of sales taking place via Amazon UK. It also sells via Amazon USA, its own bespoke website/e-commerce platform, eBay, and Etsy, and they supply physical retailers (24 at present), such as book shops, garden centres, gift shops, map specialists, and museums. 

The company has a number of gains to offer the prospective purchaser, including: 

• A strong financial profile, with an average turnover of £393,830, and an average EBITDA of £99,145 over the previous seven years.
• Low overheads and high profit margins;
• Long-standing relationships with suppliers and retailers, and existing distribution channels;
• Strong branding, with registered UK and US trademarks;
• Outstanding reputation, with 5/5 Etsy rating, average 4.6/5 product ratings on Amazon, and 100% positive feedback on eBay;
• Relocatable;
• Significant scope for growth, e.g., expanding product ranges, offering personalised products, switching to cheaper suppliers and couriers, reducing other operational costs, and potentially recruiting staff. 

The company would be an ideal acquisition for a buyer wishing to acquire a flexible lifestyle business that can be run from home, an existing Amazon seller, or an ambitious entrepreneur wishing to scale the company. 

Highlights

• Designers and distributors of high-quality fun and educational products and gifts for children;
• Scalable business opportunity;  
• A strong financial profile; 
• International customer base;  
• Outstanding reputation in the market, having displaced larger competitors;
• Long-standing relationships with suppliers and retailers, and existing distribution channels; 
• Significant scope for growth.

Opportunities

• To date, the business has been run as a home-based lifestyle business, however, there remains huge scope for growth, e.g. by expanding product ranges, rethinking the company’s marketing strategy, offering personalised products, switching to cheaper suppliers and couriers, reducing other operational costs, and potentially recruiting staff. Future owners may also wish to resume selling via Amazon EU and re-engage with Amazon Vendor Central Supply which offers higher margins and increased sales levels, partner with international distributors and/or LEA-approved educational suppliers. 

Prospective purchasers

• 100% share sale
• Prospective purchasers will be required to sign an NDA