New manufacturing hub in Vietnam for J&C Joel

The company will also be opening a new office in China, and is aiming to double the sales team in south-east Asia this year.

More than 70 per cent of J&C Joel’s sales already come from international trade, and the business, which provides stage machinery and theatre drapes, now exports to over 80 countries worldwide.

The Vietnamese sales, warehouse and manufacturing hub will be based in the country’s capital, Hanoi, and will help support the growing market in Asia and improve lead times, while the new office in mainland China will allow the company to offer face-to-face support to clients across the country.

The new locations, which are set to open in July, will be in addition to the firm’s current established offices in Hong Kong, Macau, Africa, Europe, Middle East and their headquarters in Sowerby Bridge.

James Wheelwright, CEO at J&C Joel, said: “We have identified that in order to expand our growth beyond its current position we must invest in infrastructure.

“We are constantly investing in our already established locations and looking at innovative ways to improve and increase our offering across the world. By opening new offices in key locations in China and Vietnam can only strengthen our position for our expected future growth.

“We recognise the importance of international trade and we are continuously seeking to increase the exposure and knowledge of J&C Joel and our products and services across the globe.

“We know that having people on the ground in those areas and having local offices goes a long way to doing this and provides customers with a valuable local connection and ensures we are providing the best service to our clients around the world.”

J&C Joel was established in 1978 by John Wheelwright whose family had been involved in the textile industry for more than 150 years.