Grays Equestrian Gifts & 40 Years of BETA
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019 is the 40th Anniversary of the BETA Show, and Grays who exhibited at this year’s show were celebrating their attendance at all 40 BETA International shows over the 40 years.
How did Grays start as a business? Founded by Frank Ralph Gray in 1922 at the age of just 17,
F.R.Gray’s was born, now known as Grays Est 1922. Frank began by selling domestic hardware, light agricultural equipment and china at markets in and around the Staffordshire area.
How does your range differ from the first BETA show in 1979? At the time our range would have consisted of Mugs, China, Stationary and Models. Our product range has evolved over the years to provide more fashion lead equestrian gifts such as the Leather range of Handbags and Purses.
What is your inspiration? Our inspiration comes from a mixture of influences – The Equestrian world, The Fashion world and requests from our customers. If a customer suggests a viable improvement to one of our products, we always try to make it possible in the future!
What is the company’s greatest success? Grays biggest success is continuous business since 1922, over the years we’ve had various success stories including being the largest retailer of handmade sculptures manufactured in Scotland by Border Fine Arts, to selling the Nanking Cargo - sunken fragile table and porcelains from the South China Sea. More recently with our own designed and manufactured range of Equestrian Inspired Leather Goods.
Above:Greg Copeland and Sue Birtwistle
What has really worked for your business? Grays has had lots of success over it’s 90+ years. We have al- ways found that when something works then we must make the most of it. In the past it was
travelling to events all over the country, nowadays our key growth area is our internet sales. It’s the way most of the
population wish to shop.
What has been the toughest challenge to date? In recent years keeping up with technology and the changing way of how people wish to buy, this is an ongoing challenge for all businesses nowadays! As we sell at a lot of outdoor shows the British weather is another ongoing challenge for us!
What are your ambitions for the business? To continue for another 100 years. To continue to expand our Ecommerce sales and to continue to expand our own brand leather goods range.
What do you gain from Trade Shows for your business? New contacts, putting faces to names and showing new and old customers our products in real life.
Any notable achievements or events from this year’s shows? Grays won Gold award for best stand at Blair Atholl Horse Trials, and Silver award for best stand at Gatcombe Horse Trials.
Introducing Te New Alice
Gold Label Collection
www.grays1922.com
Te New Alice Gold Label Collection Exclusively Designed by Grays Available in Navy, Brown & Black Premium Leather
www.grays1922.com
Please mention Central Horse News What’s On when responding to advertisements MARCH/APRIL 2019 63
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