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Business

Childrensalon in Tunbridge Wells named in Sunday Times BDO Profit Track 100 table

By: Chris Price

Published: 00:00, 13 April 2015

Updated: 10:40, 13 April 2015

A children’s clothes retailer has been named one of the fastest-growing private companies in the UK after doubling its profits in three years.

Childrensalon in Tunbridge Wells came 10th in the Sunday Times BDO Profit Track 100 table after its bottom-line surged to £5.7 million.

The firm, which sells more than 270 brands including Dior, Gucci and Burberry, has grown as buyers in Arabic markets snap up their designer goods, as well as Eastern Europe and China.

Childrensalon owner Michele Harriman-Smith and logistics director Affie Scott-Read

It is the latest boost for the company which came second in last year’s MegaGrowth 50, the list of Kent’s fastest-growing companies published by the KM Group, after turnover rocketed by 338.5% in four years.

Chief executive Michele Harriman-Smith, whose mother opened the firm's first store in 1952, said: "Over the past 60 years we have focused on dressing children beautifully, with award-winning customer service.

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"Today we sell to many countries and nationalities, but still keep the personal touch.

"We have the largest of selection of products and brands of any online UK retailer, we have personalised our website with seven languages.

"Over the past 60 years we have focused on dressing children beautifully, with award-winning customer service..." - Michele Harriman-Smith, Childrensalon

"We employ over 150 staff who speak over 25 languages between them."

The Sunday Times’ 16th annual list also featured three other Kent companies.

Universal Meats in Sevenoaks, a distributor which imports meat from South America, the Far East and Europe, was named 74th after profits grew 49% to £5.4 million.

Blaze Signs in Broadstairs, a sign-maker which made road directions for the Olympic Park for the London 2012 games, came in 75th thanks to a 48% growth in profits to £4.7 million.

Plastics manufacturer FloPlast, based in Sittingbourne, saw its profits grow 47% to £4.2 million thanks to distriubution to more than 25 countries, ranking the firm 83rd on the list.

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Stuart Lisle, partner in the southeast at BDO, the title sponsor of the league table, said: “Medium-sized businesses in the South East and across the UK are thriving.

“Our newly-named ‘Brittelstand’ has outgrown the German ‘Mittelstand’ with mid-market businesses across all sectors seizing the opportunities a growing economy presents.

“The South East’s most profitable companies have remained focused on sustainable growth by making intelligent investment decisions in innovation and overseas expansion.”

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