Jomoval on the move for international growth
Hampshire-based gift and wall decoration business Jomoval is stepping up production and preparing for international expansion with the move to new, larger business premises backed by a £289,000 funding package from Santander Corporate Commercial.
Jomoval was established in 2006 by husband and wife team Jonathan and Valerie Salomon and operates under two online retail brands: Dotty Frog Décor which sells boutique wall stickers for the adult market, and Becky and Lolo which provides unique merchandise for children. Becky and Lolo started life in August 2006 after Valerie, a qualified dietician, was unable to find a lunchbox for her daughters which held compartments for healthy snacks and fruit. Valerie discovered Laptop Lunches, mulit-compartmental lunchboxes specially manufactured by a Californian company, and in August 2006 became their exclusive distributor in the UK.
As the business grew Jonathan and Valerie diversified the business to include other fun and unique products aimed at children and began selling them via the Becky Lolo website, named after their daughters. They spotted another gap in the market for re-positionable wall stickers - a cost-efficient way for parents re-decorate their children’s rooms as they grow up and their interests change. They are now the sole UK distributors of a range of stickers, including officially licensed Disney images. They then diversified into the adult market, creating the Dotty Frog Décor website to provide boutique wall stickers aimed at adults.
The new premises are on the Omega Park in Alton.
Valerie Salomon, Co-founder of Jomoval, said: “The new funding has enabled us to move into larger premises, giving us the capacity to hold more stock and making it possible for us to start exporting. We love our products and we’re excited to grow into new markets and share them with more people.”
Jacqui Gregory, Relationship Director for Santander Corporate Commercial, said: “We are delighted to be supporting this exciting business. Jonathan and Valerie are great examples of entrepreneurs who have spotted a gap in the market, exploited it and have continued to diversify their business to reach new markets. I am looking forward to working them as they take this next step in their growth.”
