Celebrating more than 40 years in business, The Milford Collection continues to evolve through new product development, strategic acquisitions and a commitment to independent retail. Operations Director John Blower explains how the family-run company is embracing the future while staying true to its values A business built to last When did you start up and why? Milford Collection was founded in 1985 by my father, David Blower. He saw an opportunity to supply quality giftware to independent retailers at competitive prices, backed by good service and reliable stock. What started as a small family business has grown into a company supplying thousands of gift shops, garden centres, visitor attractions and independent retailers throughout the UK and beyond. Over 40 years later, we’re still proudly family owned and run. What prompted you to launch the business? David had been working for the Welsh Government, helping small Welsh craft businesses market their products. His role focused primarily on developing export opportunities in the USA, while also supporting businesses in finding customers within the UK. This led to him attending his first Spring Fair in 1982, where he represented around a dozen Welsh gift companies. Three years later, David took the bold step of becoming self-employed and established The Milford Collection. What challenges have you overcome since the company’s launch? Like most businesses that have been trading for over four decades, we’ve experienced our fair share of challenges. We’ve adapted through recessions, changing retail habits, Brexit, the pandemic and significant increases in shipping and freight costs. Consumer buying habits continue to evolve, so we’ve had to keep reinventing ourselves, expanding into new product categories and investing in our own brands. Remaining flexible, helpful and customer 48
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTA0NTE=