AN advanced digital marketing strategy and a global customer base has seen a traditional leather company walk off with the lion’s share of honours at the annual Teesdale Business Awards last week.
Equus Leather, based at Westholme near Winston, not only took the Best Business award on Thursday night, February 15, but also scooped the Most Innovative Business, Digital Impact and Best Business Trading Outside Of Teesdale categories.
Run by husband and wife team Charles and Dawn Trevor, Equus leather is renowned for the quality of their bespoke belts, dog collars, wallets and watch straps among others leather goods.
Everything is hand-stitched.
Master of ceremonies Emma Hignett praised the company’s digital marketing strategy that had won it customers across the world.
On the success of the night Mr Trevor said: “It was overwhelming and we weren’t expecting so many awards. It is nice to have people’s hard work recognised. It is really good.”
The firm exports to more than 70 countries and exports make up about 60 per cent of their market.
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Awards on the night were made to: Apprentice of the year, winner Josh Barker of Teesdale YMCA, runners up Adam Holland of Sporting Force and Laura Lee of GSK; Entrepreneur of the Year, winner Tommy Lowther, runners up Andy Beck and Jennifer Cartwright; Social Responsibility, winner East Briscoe Farm Cottages, runners up Cross Lanes Organic Farm and Doe Park Caravan Site; Best Community Engagement Project, winner Barnard Castle Christmas Light, runners up TCR Hub and The Association of Teesdale Day Clubs; Best Social Enterprise, winner, Music At The Heart Of Teesdale, runners up Bright Woods Forest School CIC and Barnard Castle Farmers’ Market; Best Customer Focus, winner 999 Fire and Safety, runners up Kendall’s Hair 78, Lilyann; Most Innovative Business, winner Equus Leather, runners up Elipse Fabrications Ltd and Reboot Repairs and Design; Digital Impact, winner Equus Leather, runners up Chocolate Fayre and 999 Fire and Safety; Best Business Trading Outside Teesdale, winner Equus Leather, runners up Bell Access & Engineering Ltd and Coghlans at Barningham; Growth Business of the Year, winner Bell Access & Engineering Ltd, runners up Francis Bookkeeping Solutions Ltd and Katie’s Traditional Fish and Chips; Best New Business, winner Elipse Fabrications Ltd, runners up: McColl’s Brewery Ltd, Moorcock Inn; Best Business, winner Equus Leather, runners up Niche and 999 Fire and Safety.
