Rowlinson Garden Products is hopeful of business prospects for next year as it finalises a period of restructuring.
The Wardle-based company hopes to build further on its growing home delivery service, which it says has the benefit of cutting on transport and costs and saves customers committing to large stock levels.
Jimmy Rowlinson, managing director, said a period of consulation in August over possible redundancies had already resulted in some job losses.
“We have had to extend our notice period because we have been quite busy,” he said. “We’ve not stopped production here yet but that is the intention.”
The company is reducing production of garden buildings and other products at Wardle because subsidiary Baltic Connexions is manufacturing the products in Estonia. Some products are also now sourced in eastern Europe and the Far East.
Mr Rowlinson confirmed about 60 staff were affected by the restructuring.
“We’re quite hopeful about business next year, but it’s still a difficult market,” he added.
Despite Rowlinson Garden Products’ focus on home delivery sales, it will continue to offer full or half loads of garden products to existing customers.
