His £20.6m-turnover company designs, develops and markets appliances, but they are made in the best manufacturing centre for each particular product.

“A lot of it’s made in the Far East, Italy, Slovenia, Spain, France and Turkey,” Weaver says.

Weaver says the entrepreneurial spirit is growing in China. “For a country that was communist, China has embraced capitalism with a missionary zeal,” he says. “They have an incredible attitude. If you want to get something done, you find the right partner and it happens.”

However, on the down side, Weaver says the cost of shipping goods from China is increasing in line with oil prices. “If you’re shipping low-margin goods, it can get very expensive.”

Premium Appliance Brands is now buying more products in Eastern Europe and Turkey where labour costs are still low.

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