It’s been an incredible year – that’s crystal clear

A Scottish crystal company has broken new ground with unprecedented growth globally year on year.

The award-winning family-owned Glencairn business has revealed, in its end of year figures, that it has broken through the £10 million revenue barrier for the first time with a 20% year on year increase and their largest percentage annual increase in revenue since the business was founded in 1981.

2017 was the first year that the East Kilbride-located business saw its export sales overtake its domestic market – now sitting at 60% of the overall sales, versus 49% in 2016.

The extraordinary growth overseas is thanks to a sizeable increase in the luxury decanter and glassware part of the business (40% year on year) as well as increased interest in the world-renowned Glencairn Glass (29% year on year).

The USA – the company’s largest growing market globally – now contributes to nearly a third of the overall export business with sales doubling in value growth over the previous 12 months. A large contributor to this increase is sales and development through leading online retailers, in addition to Glencairn being ever more present in the growing US craft spirits scene.

The core elements of the business’s growth stem from both the company’s luxury decanter and glassware business, which has grown 40% year on year and the Glencairn Glass – which has seen growth of 29% year on year. Clients include leading companies within the spirits market through to independent bottlers and craft distilleries around the world.

Scott Davidson, new product development director said: ‘We are incredibly proud of our business growth over the past year, especially with our increasing focus on export markets.

The Glencairn directors

‘Our premium decanter and bottle business places us a world leader in this market. Coupled with our strong relationships with distilleries and businesses in the USA, Europe and the Far East has meant that we have exceeded all of our business expectations.

‘In addition, consumers, globally, are looking to enhance their spirit drinking moments, to savour and learn as they enjoy their whisky and, as part of the serve experience, they are seeking quality glassware that is proven to enhance their favourite dram. Growth in demand for our Glencairn Glass is testimony to that.’

Alongside revenue growth, the business has increased its staffing levels to 60 full time members of the team at their workshop in East Kilbride.

Managing director Paul Davidson added: ‘Our customers, suppliers and of course, our staff are valued equally by the business and we’d like to thank our customers and suppliers for their support in this tremendous year. Our staff have been fantastic. We pride ourselves on hiring the right people for the right jobs and on bringing on new, young recruits that can learn the business and the way our team works together is something we are extremely proud of.’

Glencairn’s clients include leading drinks companies, brands and other outlets, including: BP, Brown-Forman, Cunard, Diageo, Houses of Parliament, Muller, Google, the Scottish Parliament and the majority of the Scottish Whisky manufacturers, in addition to many of the international whisky and spirit producers.

Created in 2001, the Glencairn Glass has seen an average year on year global sales increase. Often referred to as the official tasting glass, the company makes over 3 million per year, across hundreds of brands, distributed to over 70 countries worldwide.