As Andrew and Chris Dwerryhouse, along with Sarah and John Howarth of Wild Thang, emphasise: “The importance as a family and team to always focus on the positives and reflect on achievements across our organisation keeps us moving forward with the right positive attitude.”

The family firm specialises in branded clothing, merchandise, and print. Here’s a countdown of their top four achievements from the past year, showcasing their innovative approach to overcoming challenges and seizing opportunities.

Wild Thang hosted three visits from the BBC at their sustainability-focused HQ, sharing their family business and manufacturing insights pre- and post-Budget. Discussing some of the broader challenges faced by businesses today, they advocated for more support from the new government for family businesses, and UK manufacturers on their sustainability journey.

Building on their established presence in Liverpool and Ireland, Wild Thang has taken steps to increase international trade. By opening a new office in New Jersey, strategically positioned near New York City, they have expanded their capacity to serve clients with operations in North America.

This milestone, marked by their first successful orders from the US office, represents a pivotal moment in their journey.

“Opening our New Jersey office underlines our commitment to growth and international presence. It’s a moment that validates our vision of delivering a world-class solution on a global scale.”

Winning the Sustainability Business of the Year award at the Liverpool Chamber Innovation in Business Awards for the second consecutive year has been a crowning achievement for Wild Thang.

“This award means the absolute world to Wild Thang. It validates the efforts we’ve poured into making sustainability a core focus of our business and pushes us to keep ESG central to our core values.”

As part of their £2m investment in the redevelopment of their building, they have installed 290 solar panels on the roof among many other sustainability initiatives. Their commitment to sustainability is a reminder that prioritising environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals could not only strengthen a company’s reputation but also foster long-term growth.

Wild Thang recently invested in launching a new website, a project they describe as a “massive undertaking” for an SME. The platform was built to deliver a better client experience with enhanced navigation, plus faster load times.

“This isn’t just any website launch; it’s the beginning of a new chapter for our company. With months of hard work, our team delivered something truly world-class to serve our clients’ needs in an elevated way.”

Wild Thang’s achievements offer inspiration for family businesses across industries:

• Advocate and engage: Take part in public conversations to highlight challenges and opportunities for your sector.
• Think globally: Expanding internationally could unlock new opportunities while supporting existing client relationships.
• Prioritise sustainability: ESG commitments are more than just ethical choices; they could drive business success.
• Invest in technology: Strategic digital transformation could strengthen brand loyalty and operational efficiency.

As Wild Thang puts it:
“We are proud of the progress we’ve made over the last year. Our mission will always be to deliver one world-class solution for branded clothing, merchandise, and print while helping clients achieve their ESG goals.”

To all family-owned businesses, Wild Thang sends their encouragement:
“Wishing good luck to all the other family businesses working to achieve their goals. It’s fantastic to see initiatives like Family Business Week celebrating and supporting these vital enterprises.”

For more insight and inspiration on future-proofing your business, visit Get your business fit for the future.