RMS secures growth capital from BGF

RMS International has secured a growth capital investment from BGF to fund infrastructure developments and further expand its global operations.

RMS International designs, sources and distributes toys, craft, stationery and licence product to customers worldwide. Headquartered in Manchester, the business has offices in Miami, Boston, Hong Kong, Shanghai and the Netherlands.

Over the past 25 years, RMS has developed a range of products under its own brands, Grafix, Blocktech, GL and Games Hub. This has been a major driver of growth and helped to establish RMS’s reputation for innovative, exciting and value-for-money products. More recently, the business has been building a strong ‘licenced product’ line, working with Disney, Universal and other major franchises. RMS’s management team is now pursuing further expansion in the licenced-brand product category, as well as continued development of Grafix and its other major brands.

Founded in 1982, RMS’s operations include product innovation and design, research and testing and supply chain audits to service major retailers worldwide. Significant in-house market research and design means that RMS is able to react to market trends and introduce new lines across all areas of the business. RMS employs 130 staff globally, including a team of 27 designers.

The business has appointed Stuart Rose, the former Chairman of toy group Hamleys and former Managing Director of The Body Shop, as Chairman, following an introduction by BGF.

The investment was led for BGF by Matt Widdall and Rhys Davenport. RMS is banked by Barclays Corporate Banking.