The Stripes Company, a Cheshire-based online retailer, has reported a surge in sales as customers look to update their homes and gardens in a bid to make the most of lockdown amid the current COVID-19 crisis.
The company, which produces a range of homeware, garden and leisure products, specialising in furniture and accessories, has a long-standing history of creating high-quality products that homeowners love – all with stripes in mind.
Maria Hopwood, who founded The Stripes Company in 2006, said: “As with any small business, we were taken aback by Coronavirus and the impact it’s had on not only our business but our day-to-day lives. Whilst many are suffering, we are one of the fortunate few who have benefitted as a result – something we’re truly humbled by.
“Being an online retailer, we’ve managed to stay connected to our customers, whether they are existing ones or new to the brand. What’s more, we’ve been able to keep up with demand as all orders are prepared in house, using stock we have – thankfully we source materials for the upcoming season in advance, so had everything we needed to hand.”
Maria originally spotted a gap in the market for brightly covered deckchair canvas whilst working as a garden specialist antique dealer, and her art teaching degree combined with a background working in promotions led to an idea, and it wasn’t long before she set up her own business.
Originally known as Deckchairstripes, it quickly rebranded to The Stripes Company. And, what began as a tribute to the humble deckchair, soon became a brand specialising in all the bold and beautiful brilliance of seaside, sports and leisure.
Maria commented: “Sometimes we get asked how we can build a whole business simply on stripes, but when people see the products it makes perfect sense – no two stripe patterns are the same. We have hundreds of fabrics in different styles and colours.
“Some of them are slightly more traditional and others can be out there. It’s not just for maximalist taste either, a lot of people would be surprised what a pop of colour can do in the home or garden. I’d say a lot of our products tend to be real talking points.”
