The toiletry company – which was established in 2006 by entrepreneur Mel Curtis (pictured above) – has grown to become a global business with operations spread across the UK, China and Sri Lanka.

Winter in Venice offers a wide range of paraben-free toiletries and gift sets which are sold by numerous high street retailers and online shops, including Debenhams, Costco and Amazon.

The funding facility provided by Scottish Pacific enabled the company to secure large orders over the years, while limiting risks to the business with a creative credit insurance facility.

Mel said that having dealt with a number of traditional banks and finance houses in the past, it found Steve [Pleace] and his team at Scottish Pacific a breath of fresh air.

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“Scottish Pacific really took the time to understand our business and provided us with a solution that was tailored to meet the specific needs of our business. 

“The ‘one-size-fits-all’ scenario offered by banks was certainly not what Steve and his team offered to us. 

“The custom-built finance facility enabled us to forward purchase stock without the risk of cash being tied up in outstanding invoices, putting the firm in a strong position to meet a number of contracts with major retailers.”

Winter in Venice product range

Steve Pleace, senior relationship manager at Scottish Pacific, added: “Winter in Venice has an extensive product range and is witnessing strong demand from retailers and customers across the world. 

“We have worked closely with Mel for a number of years and it has been brilliant to see the business go from strength to strength.”