Perthshire underwear firm Molke is aiming to get production up to 1,000 bras a week by the end of the year – if it can find enough machinists.
The firm launched almost three years ago after a successful crowdfunding campaign and operates from Perth Airport.
Owned by Kirsty Lunn and Ros Marshall, the firm recently doubled its manufacturing space.
Ms Lunn said recruiting enough talented machinists is an ongoing problem for the firm, which is looking to get to £1 million turnover next year.
“At the moment we are producing 400 bras a week and we just cannot keep up with demand,” she said.
“It’s a nice problem to have but we could do so much more if we were able to find the staff. We are up to 15 staff but are always needing more.
“We get wholesale inquiries from all over the world but we just wouldn’t be able to fulfil those at the moment.
“I’m determined to get production up to 1,000 bras a week by the end of the year. We now have the extra space available but it’s a case of finding people.”
Although best known for its colourful bras, Molke expanded its product range at the end of last year by launching leggings and children’s pants ranges.
For the first time, Molke outsourced production to a factory in Portugal, although intends to manufacture the products in Perth this year.
“It made sense to outsource production as it would have meant investing in new machinery for an untested product,” Ms Lunn said.
“The leggings have sold well and we are now looking to purchase equipment to bring this production back to Scotland.
“We continue to aim to become one of the main employers in Perthshire and that won’t change but we also need to do what we can to get the business moving.
“We are also looking to move into swimwear this year and will follow the same strategy. They are going to be produced initially at an amazing factory in Romania, as we do not have the skills or equipment to make them in-house at the moment.”
Molke was awarded a £45,000 cash injection by the Scottish EDGE awards last year, which has allowed it to take on more staff.
Ms Lunn said that once the firm’s volumes increase she is particularly keen on targeting the American market, where it already has a lot of customers.
“This year we do want to look at how we can market the product internationally.
“We are going to look for more stockists in America but we have to be able to produce more bras before we can do that.”
rmclaren@thecourier.co.uk