Theoretical Question

[zipadeedodah]

Where would be the best place in the UK to set up a business manufacturing wooden toys? I know this is very, very broad question...

The main factor I think would be where the supply of raw materials would come from. Would it be realistically viable to source wood from the UK? If so, are there particular areas in the UK that it would be wise to locate the business? I can't seem to find much info on UK timber suppliers.

Or would it be more likely wood would need to be sourced from another country? The company would operate on a national scale for now. It would therefore be important that it would have reasonable transport links up and down the country, wherever it was situated.

Any ideas would be helpful!

[kujawski]

In the middle of sherwood forest.

[buildersmate]

Strikes me that the cost of the raw material (wood) is chicken-feed compared to the cost of direct labour in machining the wood and assembling the toys. So you go where the supply of labour is plentiful and relatively cheap. Which is likely to also be a place where you can get Government grants for creating jobs there.

[Twenty20]

I think, financially, it would be better to source the toys abroad or have them made to your spec abroad and just import the finished toy rather than the raw materials.

Maybe you should look at where competitors source their toys from? Indonesia or China are possibilities.