Making a deal out of popping corks
Sep 25 2007 by Andrew Mernin, The Journal
A FIRM which makes specially designed bottles of champagne is hoping to pop the corks in celebration of a lucrative deal which could double its turnover.
Newcastle-based Abstract Bottles, which uses a special liquid coating to produce custom-made bottles for corporate and individual clients, is in talks to supply car giant Lexus at its 56 showrooms across the country.
The contracts, which Abstract hopes to seal by next year, would have a combined value of £250,000 a year to the company if it managed to get every Lexus showroom to sign up and would double the firm’s annual revenue.
The Killingworth company currently has a contract worth £10,000-a-year to supply Lexus’ North-East showroom on Benton Road, Newcastle.
It has received interest from other Lexus dealers around the country and is confident of enhancing its relationship with the car giant.
The business is also looking into the possibility of supplying other prestige car manufacturers such as Mercedes, Aston Martin and Jaguar.
Meanwhile the firm has predicted it will increase its supply to non-corporate customers from its current rate of around 260 a month to 2,500 a month by June 2008.
The business allows customers to pick the colour and personal message on bottles of champagne, wine or cava supplied by the company for any special occasion. Abstract Bottles founder Graham Crozier said: “You really have to see Abstract Bottles to believe how striking, professional and unique they are.
“We’ve developed the ability to pantone match colours and have our own design team who can work with company logos to ensure stunning designs.”
Earlier this month the company provided special bottles of water to an Institute of Directors dinner held at the Hilton Gateshead Hotel.
Mr Crozier is hoping the event could lead to a lucrative contract to supply Birmingham City Football Club after he gave a sample product to the club’s managing director Karren Brady who attended the event.
Mr Crozier said: “We want to see whether she wants to start doing Birmingham City blue bottles signed by players.”
Abstract is aiming to enhance its contracts with various sports clubs after supplying special bottles of champagne to Sussex County Cricket Club when it won the County Championship and the Nat West Trophy last year.
The company which is based on Camperdown Industrial Estate has also supplied Vodafone, Calor Gas and baby feeding products manufacturer Tommee Tippee, based in Cramlington, Northumberland.
