Badgequo lifts market share as demand for cosmetic range soars

The company, based in Silsden, West Yorkshire, has seen its turnover rise by 20 per cent over the past year to 6.2m.

The company – which employs 20 people at its 36,000 sq ft distribution, office and showroom facility – recorded an increase in sales of its affordable range of cosmetics and toiletries as consumers sought lower-priced products during the recession.

Sales are continuing to grow and Badgequo is forecasting another 21 per cent increase in turnover to 7.5m in this financial year.

The company has traded for 26 years. It was acquired by the husband and wife team, of Kai and Linda Arter, in a 3m management buyout in June 2006.

Four years ago, Badgequo had seven employees and a turnover of 4.5m of which two per cent was due to export sales.

Today, exports account for 10 per cent of turnover. Badgequo's products are sold in South Africa, Canada, France, Italy, the Czech Republic, Norway and Finland.

Mr Arter, the managing director, said: "We bought the business because we could clearly see the opportunity within it.

"When Linda and I bought the business it had 70 active customers. Today we have more than 200 and a record number of forward orders."

Badgequo designs and manufactures a range of private label products for high street retailers and also sells its own brands, Body Collection and Technic, through a variety of online and retail outlets.

The company also has its own e-commerce site www.lovethymakeup.com .

Badgequo was originally based in Skipton, North Yorkshire, but moved to new premises in Belton Road, Silsden in January 2010.