Ventola Projects manufactures and installs bespoke lighting solutions for a range of business sectors. Based in Anstey in Leicestershire, the company has been enjoying a string of successes which has seen their work expand to the US and to be given the title of Export Champion.
Managing Director and business owner, Mick Ventola has been named as a Midlands Engine Export Champion for the Department of International Trade. This means Mick will be a representative of companies that have successfully sold internationally. He will now be encouraging others to go overseas with their businesses via workshops and seminars over the next year. This isn’t his only achievement as he has also been shortlisted as a finalist for the East Midlands Area FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards 2019.
Ventola lighting products have featured across the East Midlands, working with companies from The Curve, Athena Theatre, Audi and Loughborough University to name but a few. They’ve also provided unique, innovative lighting for Rollerball Bowling Alley in Essex, where McDonald’s filmed its advertising.
The success of the company in the UK led them to branch out to the US and Middle East, even undertaking work for the Qatari Royal Family. When expanding the business overseas, Mick and the team focused their projects on entertainment centres. Proving that Ventola can demonstrate their expertise and quality service in a niche area, they have grown a reputation as a first-choice supplier across the US in particular. Their lighting solutions have been installed in leisure resorts right across the US, from Florida to Las Vegas to Minnesota.
Success hasn’t been achieved without a couple of challenges along the way. One major challenge Ventola faced was taking a company to a place where it is unknown. This was overcome by applying for Enterprise East Midlands MEIF funding & ERDF Grant, which allowed Ventola to work with a marketing agency, produce new USA compliant products and stock items . Another challenge was the financial commitment to make sales visits to the USA and committing to USA trade shows to display new products, even if this meant self-funding their visits.
Mick has said: “Going to America was always going to be a risk and we knew that we were going to face some tough moments, but for us, it was a risk that paid off. Our team has worked incredibly hard and it’s been great to watch our growth and to achieve this accolade. I can’t wait to share my experiences and expertise to help other businesses export successfully.”
To read more about Ventola, or to enquire about work you may want, you can visit their website: www.ventola.co.uk
