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Ulster Weavers has announced the acquisition of Northern Irish giftware brand LoveOlli.
The move follows a decision by the home textiles supplier to expand through acquisition. It identified LoveOlli as ‘a complementary brand, ideally placed to extend our range into more diverse markets’.
LoveOlli was founded in 2012 by ex-Ulster Weavers designer Olive McCaughan, who wanted to create her own range of home fragrance products made in the UK.
Using fabric scraps, vintage postcards and old letters for inspiration, Olive developed the LoveOlli range with a focus on quality packaging.
The range now includes stationery and giftwrap, as well as additional giftware items such as bags and handmade soaps.
LoveOlli is stocked in around 300 retailers across the UK, as well as Switzerland, Sweden and Portugal.
The success of LoveOlli led Olive to seek a buyer to secure the investment required to take the business to the next level.
With an existing relationship with Ulster Weavers already in place, and a shared vision for the future of LoveOlli, Ulster Weavers’ acquisition of the brand was agreed.
Olive will continue to manage the brand as an Ulster Weavers employee. She will also take on the management of Ulster Weavers’ Story Horse brand, which she originally co-founded with Ulster Weavers’ commercial director Wendy Hamilton in 2014.
Story Horse comprises a range of fashion accessories, such as hats, scarves, wellies, bags and jewellery.
Ulster Weavers managing director Kenneth Webb commented, “We’re delighted to welcome back Olive and we’re very excited about the future of LoveOlli, alongside Story Horse, as part of the Ulster Weavers family.
“The LoveOlli range of products shares the design, quality and attention to detail that we pride ourselves on, and we’re delighted to be expanding into home fragrance and bath & body.
“We’re very much looking forward to growing LoveOlli and taking the brand to new audiences across the globe, with interest already secured in Asia.”
Olive added: “Having worked with Ulster Weavers for years I trust the team implicitly, and I know this is the perfect company to take LoveOlli forward.
“I can’t wait to see the brand grow into new markets through the distributor network in Australia, New Zealand and the US.
“And I’m looking forward to developing the product range with the support of the Ulster Weavers team. I’m also very happy to be working on Story Horse again, as it has always remained very close to my heart.
“The two brands work beautifully together, providing complimentary fashion accessories and giftware for our customers.”
Story Horse will launch its new range at London trade show Top Drawer at Olympia in September.
LoveOlli will exhibit existing ranges and unveil new products at Birmingham trade show Autumn Fair at the NEC in September.
