TRANS CONTINENTAL GROUP LIMITED

Business Description

Trans-Continental Group, through its highly respected brands SnowTime, SunTime and HomeTime is the leading supplier of Christmas, garden and indoor furniture products in the UK. Incorporated in 1994, the company’s growth has been rapid and sustained and is founded on a commitment to product development, competitive pricing and customer service.

In 1995 the company introduced the fibre-optic Christmas tree to the UK, making an immediate and extraordinary impact on the Christmas trade and becoming by far the most successful product in the industry for a decade. The company has now grown to become the market leader in artificial trees, lights and fibre-optics.

Expanding into continental Europe five years ago, with the development of a dedicated export sales force, the company’s brands can be found on the shelves of many of the biggest retailers throughout the EU.


The SunTime brand has developed a deserved reputation for the highest standards of quality and service in the garden furniture, conservatory furniture and outdoor living products sectors.

The development of garden furniture production using environmentally responsible techniques and materials from sustainable sources has resulted in the business growing to its current position as the leading supplier of garden furniture in the UK.

The breadth of product range combined with the very competitive pricing and the security of supply has seen the business penetrate successfully the mainland European market, with sales in 17 countries throughout the EU and beyond.

All-weather rattan was introduced five years ago and this attractive and practical material now accounts for 40% of the garden furniture market. SunTime has been at the forefront in developing this innovative product with many exclusive designs.

A recent development in the garden furniture industry is Textifibre, an all-weather material pioneered by SunTime which has become very successful; the brand boasts an exciting range of new designs for the 2012 season.

‘The SnowTime, SunTime and HomeTime brands are strongly represented in the major multiples, high street, mail order, garden centre and independent sectors. The company also supplies own-branded products to many of the Britain’s largest retailers including: John Lewis, BHS, Wilkinson’s, Asda and TK Maxx. In addition, the brands can be seen increasingly throughout Europe.

Our garden centre customers include companies such as The Garden Centre Group plc, Dobbies plc and many independents. Supplies to the mail order sector include Express Gifts, Shop Direct Group, Freemans and JD Williams.

The company also offers a wide selection of Indoor furniture under the HomeTime brand to cover all budgets, from a great value, self-assembly wood effect range, to solid wood and gloss finished furniture, ready assembled. Our in-house designers can tailor exclusive designs to add to customers existing ranges and, thanks to our excellent relationships with the factories, the best prices in the market place are guaranteed.

Trans-Continental Group is committed to the design and development of new and innovative products, working closely with its long established factories around the world to produce exciting and exclusive designs. To ensure unrivalled customer service we can offer the benefit of a sourcing, technical, sales support office & showroom in Hong Kong.

All consignments are inspected in our factories by the company’s in-house Quality Control team based in Hong Kong and China.

The company’s rapid growth has led to the acquisition of “state of the art” showroom and warehousing premises (over 150,000 ft2) in Preston where the full range of products are on permanent display.

The company supplies customers in many different formats: FOB or direct containers throughout the world, ex-warehouse and direct dispatch to the consumer throughout Europe.
The company is fully flexible and is able to accommodate all customers’ requirements.

Trans-Continental Group invites all existing and prospective customers to visit the showrooms in Hong Kong or at our Head Office in Preston.

Business Services
Trans-Continental Group sell directly to Trade Customers Only, which include some of the largest retailers & mail order companies in the UK such as: Shop Direct Group, BHS, Wilkinsons, ASDA, JD Williams & Freemans.

We also supply to Garden Centres, Wholesalers and DIY Stores.

The group boasts state of the art showrooms and offices in Preston, Hong Kong, China and over 150,000 square feet of storage at its distribution centre in Preston.

What we can offer you:
Best prices
Biggest Ranges
Direct Container
Ex-warehouse deliveries
Direct dispatch
Ex-warehouse
Deliver / Supply in any format
Sales Support
Comprehensive Backup Service

Business Products
SnowTime - Christmas Products: Trees, Lights, Fibre Optics & Décor
SunTime - Outdoor Living
HomeTime - Indoor Living
Lifelite - LED Bulbs
HairSecret 360 - Hair Building Fibres

Business Staff & Management
Mike Withers - Managing Director
Jason Richardson - Sales Director
Sara Murray - Buyer
Lorraine Briggs - Marketing Manager

Business Clients
John Lewis, BHS, Wilkinson’s, Asda and TK Maxx

Garden centre customers include The Garden Centre Group plc, Dobbies plc and many independents

Mail order customers include Express Gifts, Shop Direct Group, Freemans and JD Williams.