Consumer products business Hunter Price International has appointed brand and licensing expert Nikki Samuels as Commercial Director to help guide the Manchester-based business, which is on target to exceed its £40m sales forecast this year.
Nikki, the former Licensing Director and founder of character product manufacturer Sambro, brings decades of experience and knowledge to the Hunter Price team. He joins as part of the company’s ambitious growth strategy across its core product categories, including home and lifestyle, toys and activity and stationery and craft.
Following the appointment, Co-founder Jeremy Winburn will now take up the role of Trading Director, to focus on the company’s fast-paced reactionary trading business. Nikki will concentrate on the longer-term strategic vision for the business and new business development opportunities.
Hunter Price has established itself as a leading supplier of consumer products for the UK’s top retailers, with a host of successful own brands, such as ToyMania and SplashMania, as well as partnerships with the likes of Warner Bros, Cocomelon and the Style Sisters.
Most recently, the business has created and launched the new home and lifestyle brand Chapter B, for TV personality Billie Faiers, which will hit the market with the likes of Next and Very later this year.
Jeremy Winburn says: “We are industry innovators – and over the past two years we’ve continued to adapt and evolve, to carve out very clear areas of focus to help us achieve our goals.
“We’ve been strengthening our fantastic teams with the best talent, from buying and design, to sales and marketing. We’ve elevated our whole thought process and approach to enable us to deliver excellence within the industry.
“Nikki really shares our passion for product and his addition to the team will be invaluable as we start activating our plans over the coming years.”
Speaking about his new role, Nikki says: “When you set foot in Devon Mill – the home of Hunter Price – you’re hit with such an incredible energy of excitement and passion. The talent and drive to create outstanding products is like no other business I’ve known and that’s what brought me here.
“We’ve got really solid foundations as a business and now it’s time to maximise our opportunities and potential across our core categories in the UK and throughout Europe. It’s a really exciting time and we’re looking forward to sharing lots more with you about our plans throughout the year.”
Nikki will also sit on the board of directors alongside co-founders Jeremy Winburn and Managing Director Josh Eden, Operations Director Jonathan Alexander and toys Sales Director, Richard Belford.
Billie Faiers unveils home and lifestyle brand Chapter B at Spring Fair
