20/10/2014

Belfast Firm Scoops Business In The Middle East

Belfast-based Art on Fashion has won its first business in the Middle East with assistance from Invest Northern Ireland.

The fashion business is supplying bespoke designed tunic tops for sale by a prestigious client in Doha, Qatar as a result of its participation in a recent joint Invest NI/UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) workshop.

The company, which employs four people in south Belfast, followed up contacts from the seminar and the British Embassy in Qatar in June. It was then assisted by Invest NI to visit the client in Doha to present design samples that subsequently led to the award of the important contract in September. The tops, featuring a digitally printed design supplied by the client, will be delivered in November.

Dr Vicky Kell, Invest NI Trade Director, commenting on the export business for Art on Fashion, said: "This is an excellent example of how a small business offering an expert service can secure sales in an international market by taking part in one of our targeted trade events and by responding quickly to opportunities outlined during the event and by our experts in a particular market.

"Art of Fashion attended our most recent workshop on Doing Business in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with UKTI which led to some specific contacts, particularly with retailers, being pinpointed for the company in Qatar. Our own team in UAE assisted the company with further contacts in Dubai and to visit the potential customers and to begin the negotiations that led to the first business there."

(CD)

Related Northern Ireland Business News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

06 November 2015
Council Hosts 'Small Business Saturday Bus Tour'
Belfast City Council hosted the 'Small Business Saturday Bus Tour' at City Hall on Thursday, 05 November, which is touring the UK to highlight small business success and encourage people to 'shop local'.
16 May 2006
High flying NI firms land in Berlin
As the first phase of a major initiative to target the European Aerospace Sector, Invest Northern Ireland is helping five leading precision engineering firms to exhibit at the Berlin Air Show this week.
19 February 2013
Sperrin Metal Storage Solutions Sign £300,000 Contract
Sperrin Metal Storage Solutions, the Draperstown-based specialist in storage systems, signed a contract worth around £300,000 during its participation with Invest Northern Ireland at the recent Arab Health, which was held in Dubai from 28-31 January.
21 September 2016
Business Speed Networking Event Announced
A new business Speed Networking event, described as an ideal space to make new business contacts and exchange information, has been announced by the Signal Atrium.
08 May 2014
Doing Business In Turkey Seminar - Invest NI
Invest NI have announced their next information seminar on "Doing Business in Turkey", building on previous successes established in September 2013. Being held on the 11 June in Radisson Blu Hotel and on 12 June in Invest NI HQ, businesses are invited to explore new export opportunities to Turkey.