Blog | Branded Items Group

The Branded Items Group named North West Family Business of the Year

A HUSBAND and wife team who sell promotional items have been named North West Family Business of the Year at the E3 Business Awards held at the University of Bolton Stadium. The Branded Items Group named North West Family Business of the Year | St Helens Star The Branded Items Group (BIG) based at Alexandra Business Park, on Prescot Road impressed a panel of independent business leaders, with their growth, personal approach to customers and their overall business story. The family-owned business is run by husband and wife Steve and Louise Fairhurst, and provides more than 15,000 promotional items and branded merchandise products, from USB sticks and pens to branded clothing. After launching in January 2017 initially selling just one range of products, BIG has grown and expanded to now supply more than 500 customers across the UK, as well as companies in Sweden, Germany and Ireland. Louise Fairhurst said: "We took a big risk when we set the business up and we made several sacrifices. I left a well-paid secure job, with no guarantee of a salary to work in the business, but our goal is to build a family business that could create a legacy for our children. "We were shocked but delighted to win the award as it’s recognition of the hard work we have put in and it’s nice to win it as a St Helens company.” The business itself, was over two years in the making and only launched after considerable preparation and research into the promotional items industry. Steve added: “We ran an online test company for two years, selling a narrow band of promotional items before launching the Branded Items Group. "In the process, we constantly mystery-shopped some of the largest companies in our sector and learned a lot about how they operated. We felt there was a market for a company that delivered old-fashioned customer service and advice, in an industry that, at times, can be too transactional and e-commerce driven.” Despite working UK wide and with customers like NHS England, Cancer Research and Ministry of Defence, Steve says the business is focused on working with more local companies. He added: “We are gradually raising our profile locally and are really grateful to be working with some amazing local organisations like St Helens Chamber, The Steve Prescot Foundation, Willowbrook Hospice and St Helens RLFC. "As a family-owned company, service is the major focus with our business, and we believe this will continue to underpin our growth.” Read More

July 25, 2019

Branded Items Group praised for helping Theatre Support Fund

Branded Items Group praised for helping Theatre Support Fund | St Helens Star A ST HELENS company has received a standing ovation for its role in a high profile campaign that has raised more than £1million for theatre charities in lockdown. The Branded Items Group (BIG) decided to diversify in April last year at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, providing PPE, hand gel and branded face masks. But just 12 months later, the fortunes of the multi award-winning company have changed following an enquiry from the newly-formed Theatre Support Fund in London’s West End. Chris Marcus and Damien Stanton, two friends who worked in London’s theatre industry had created the brand ‘The Show Must Go On’, with the aim of selling branded merchandise to raise much-needed funds for charities supporting the theatre industry. Managing director of BIG Steve Fairhurst said: “The initial enquiry to our company was for just 100 branded mugs and 100 books. “I thought that ‘The Show Must Go On’ campaign was brilliant from inception and the message resonated with the situation we were all facing during the Covid-19 crisis.“We were however shocked at what was to follow and how fast the campaign took off. “The theatre ordering system literally crashed within days due to the high demand.” Chris Marcus, found of The Theatre Support Fund said: “We started the Theatre Support Fund as a tiny project in April 2020 but the project grew at an extraordinary rate. “By the end of the first day on sale, the orders were near 1,000 books and mugs and 6,500 t-shirts.” The Show Must Go On campaign gathered momentum and drew international media attention with high profile celebrities like Keira Knightly and Dame Judy Dench supporting the cause as well as a cast of household names who posted images of themselves wearing the branded t-shirts. The year-long campaign culminated last week with the Theatre Support Fund running a five-night live performance of The Show Must Go On Live at the Palace Theatre in London starring a host of west end musical legends and hosted by Bonnie Langford. Read More

June 30, 2021

Curtain call for Merseyside merchandise firm

Merseyside branded merchandise firm The Branded Items Group helped played a major role in raising more than £1m for theatre charities during the pandemic. Liverpool Daily News A Merseyside promotional items and branded merchandise business has been commended for its support for a campaign that raised more than £1m for theatre charities during lockdown. By April 2020, things had looked uncertain for the merchandise industry, forcing family-owned St Helens form The Branded Items Group to diversify, providing PPE, branded facemasks and hand gel. In May, the company was contacted by the newly-formed Theatre Support Fund in London’s West End. Chris Marcus and Damien Stanton, two friends who worked in London’s theatre industry had created a brand called The Show Must Go On. Its aim was to sell branded merchandise to raise money for charities supporting the theatre industry. Managing director of Branded Items Group, Steve Fairhurst, said: “The initial enquiry to our company was for just 100 branded mugs and 100 books. “I thought the The Show Must Go On campaign was brilliant from inception and the message resonated with the situation we were all facing during the COVID crisis. We were however shocked at what was to follow and how fast the campaign took off. The theatre ordering system literally crashed within days with the demand.” Chris Marcus, founder of The Theatre Support Fund, explained: “We started the Theatre Support Fund as a tiny project in April 2020, but the project grew at an extraordinary rate. By the end of the first day on sale, the orders were near 1,000 books and mugs and 6,500 T-shirts.” The Show Go On campaign gathered momentum and drew international media attention, with celebrities such as Dame Judy Dench offering support, alongside a whole host of household names such as Keira Knightly, who posted images of themselves on social media wearing the branded T-shirts. The campaign culminated last week, with the Theatre Support Fund running a five-night live performance of The Show Must Go on Live at the Palace Theatre, London which was a performed by a series of west end musical leads and hosted by Bonnie Langford. Read More

July 27, 2021

Branded Items Group support Theatre Support Fund during Covid Period.

Some amazing stories of fundraising have materialised during the past 12 trying months and none more than the Theatre Support Fund. In May 2020, BIG received a call from the newly formed Theatre Support Fund.which was set up by Chris Marcus and Damien Stanton, two friends who work within the theatre industry as a direct response to the Coronavirus Pandemic. Working alongside Acting for Others and The Fleabag Support Fund their ‘The Show Must Go On!’ Campaign is raising much needed funds for the theatre community. The Theatre Support Fund+ had brought together the World Famous artwork of 16 of the West End’s biggest musicals to create the ‘The Show Must Go On!’ campaign. Supporting Acting For Others, The Fleabag Support Fund providing financial assistance across the UK to theatre workers in need. In the process Branded Items Group, initially supplied branded mugs and books, before providing several other branded items including T-shirts and Hoodies. The campaign mobilised the support of many well known actors and west end personalities gathering huge momentum, so by the time April 2021 arrived the Theatre Support Fund had raised over 800 K so far through sales of merchandise and clothing, with orders coming from 60 countries worldwide. Director Steve Fairhurst commented “It truly has been an absolute honour to work on this project during COVID and this was an incredibly important contract for our business in one of the most challenging periods our industry will ever endure. We will always be grateful for the faith and trust Chris and Damien placed in our company to deliver this contract” Read More

May 02, 2021

Branded Items Group honoured with UK Business Hero Status

Branded Items Group have been commended by the Countess of Wessex, for work carried out during the Corona Virus Crisis. The British Chambers of Commerce have been running a campaign called UK Business Heros designed to recognise the incredible work that businesses are doing right across the UK, in the most challenging of years. The campaign will pay tribute to them, recognising their contribution by giving them the UK Business Heroes stamp, demonstrating that that they have gone the extra mile to support their local community during the Coronavirus outbreak. BIG have been supporting their local community by providing essential items to the local community and delivering items to vulnerable people locally. Chamber across the country have been nominating Members who they feel have gone the extra mile during the crisis with local Chamber of Commerce nominating SHARE ON Read More

August 09, 2022

first Branded Items Group - Home

Heading Branded Items Group - Home

Heading one more Branded Items Group - Home

The Branded Items Group named North West Family Business of the Year

Branded Items Group praised for helping Theatre Support Fund

Curtain call for Merseyside merchandise firm

Branded Items Group support Theatre Support Fund during Covid Period.

Branded Items Group honoured with UK Business Hero Status