Wales manufacturer Stashed Products hits £2 million milestone
Exports and sales are growing for Welsh manufacturer Stashed Products and its range of bike storage solutions, with the £2 million sales milestone recently breached.
Started by Elliot Tanner in 2021 as a lockdown side project after spotting a gap in the market for his bike storage idea, the product is now being shipped globally after being manufactured in the small village of Abermule, Powys, shipped globally. Distribution branches are in the works for Europe and the US, which will make exporting much simpler, the firm said.
Stashed Product systems allow customers to hang, spin, slide and store their bikes in an accessible, secure and space-effective way. The success for the storage option was buoyed after Tanner showcased the product on social media in August 2022, gaining over 100,000 likes and 8 million views on Facebook and YouTube.
Sales are heavily weighted to overseas (80%), reaching over 35 countries across the globe in the past two months alone. Tanner previously owned an R&D consultancy company and used online e-commerce platform Shopify for exports initially. After winning some export sales, he sought advice on growing into new markets. 
“This time last year Stashed Products was my side hustle,” he said. “In one year alone I’ve become a full-time business owner, brought on eight brilliant team members including a sales manager, an engineering and operations manager, marketing and social media specialists, and four new operations team members. We also moved into a brand-new unit in Powys.”
Things changed when Tanner approached Business Wales in 2021, where he was referred relationship manager Steve Maggs, who has since guided Stashed’s development by helping to build business plans, register as a certified company, implement HR policies, secure a premises, and employ new specialists.
Seeing the business’ potential, the relationship manager helped Tanner access further specialist International Trade advice to successfully apply to his first mission event in California, which unlocked a major new growth market for the business, we’re told. Tanner was also introduced to an Innovation Specialist at the Welsh Government, who helped him secure the SMART Flexible Innovation Support research and development grant alongside tailored advice from industry experts, that enabled him to receive price-matched funding for new product R&D.
“Without assistance from Steve, alongside Welsh Government Innovation and Business Wales International Trade support, I’d still be at home, huddled in the spare room making and mailing out these products. I don’t come from a business background so I, like many other entrepreneurs, wasn’t aware of the support on offer. Steve has really helped me build sturdy foundations for my business on a global scale.”
Steve Maggs added: “Seeing Elliot turn Stashed Products from a side hustle into an international, seven-figure business in the short time we have worked together has been brilliant. It’s what makes my job as an advisor all the more worth it. Stashed Products skyrocketed in popularity and left Elliot playing catch up with business strategies and HR policies. I provided advice and guidance in helping Elliot achieve his business success in a simple and manageable way.”
The team are also currently finalising three new products, which will be unveiled later this year.
The product is also pitched as advantageous for bike shops wishing to organise and clear up their bikes:
If there are any other Welsh cycle businesses reading this and seeking some similar assistance and guidance, Business Wales (funded by Welsh Government) might be able to help. Visit www.businesswales.gov.wales/ or call 03000 6 03000.
