Furniture retailer to create 23 jobs

PHILIP and Joanne Lomax, of Moda Furnishings

AN OLDHAM furniture retailer has been awarded a £250,000 loan to start exporting worldwide and will bring 23 jobs to the borough.

Moda Furnishings and sister company Home Inc, based in Failsworth, were awarded The Greater Manchester Export Fund by Business Finance Solutions, Business Growth Hub and UKTI.

The loan will enable the local business to secure and grow export contracts all over the world.

The £9.5 million fund is part of a wider bid to make Greater Manchester more globally competitive through export sales.

Both companies are owned by husband and wife team Philip and Joanne Lomax who will now use the £250,000 loan to expand operations in the US.

Moda will shortly launch its dedicated American website to sell direct to customers and also occupy a showroom in Orange County, California.

The increase in export sales will create 23 jobs and safeguard 25 full-time employees in Oldham.

Moda designs and sells rattan garden furniture and accessories. The furniture is made using aluminium frames and a unique synthetic product that has the look and feel of natural rattan but is fully weatherproof. Trading online, via their 6000 sq ft store in Failsworth and a new showroom in London, Moda recently launched sister company Home Inc last year to sell uniquely designed indoor home furnishings to the trade.

Philip Lomax said: "Being able to access the support and finance from the GM Export Fund has meant that our growth strategy has taken a huge leap forward."