CHRISTCHURCH based business Taylor Made Designs has ventured into the leisure industry following the acquisition of Blu Leisure.

The move sees Taylor Made Designs, already one of the UK’s leading suppliers of bespoke corporate uniforms and merchandise to the leisure sector, add a leisure retail element to its service offer, creating a complete service for leisure, spa and hospitality operators.

From its facility in Christchurch, Taylor Made Designs has been providing corporate uniforms and merchandise to a large proportion of UK leisure organisations all over the UK for more than 27 years.

James Taylor, Taylor Made Designs Founder and MD, said: “I have built the business with my brother Ed, and today, Taylor Made Designs employs a team of nearly 40 people. Blu Leisure is already a successful and well-established supplier of bespoke uniforms plus a range of Blu branded swim retail and fitness apparel, so we now have the ability to offer the Blu range of products to the Taylor Made Designs customer base.

“As leisure facilities across the UK re-open after months of pandemic enforced closure, operators are looking for every opportunity to encourage visitors to supplement their visit with some secondary spend.

“Retail sales present a huge opportunity. Taylor Made Designs is now in a position to offer its support through the provision of high-quality products backed by our outstanding customer service.”

Blu Leisure will continue to operate from its base in Milton Keynes where it accommodates six employees, and the two brands will now take full advantage of operational efficiencies and complementary client portfolios.

However, James Taylor says he has no plans of making a move to join Blu Leisure in Buckinghamshire and reiterated his fondness for the Dorset town.

He added: “I absolutely love living and working in Christchurch.

“We have built a successful business from the coast of Dorset, that services clients all over the world. I just love that after a hard day’s work I can pick up my paddleboard and head for the beach.

“This latest acquisition, through the addition of an established retail offering, further cements Taylor Made Designs and Blu’s position as a leading supplier to the leisure and hospitality sectors, creating a sustainable future, in Dorset, for me, my family and the wider team at TMD.”