Who we are?
Universal Display is a leading manufacturer of mannequins, forms and display products. Founded in 1951 and remaining in the same family ownership for 55 years.
We are a truly global business with offices and showrooms in London and New York. Our UK factory, design/development department and warehousing/distribution centre is based in West London. We also have a joint venture modern factory facility, showrooms and offices in Zhangzhou, China as well a buying office in Taipei, Taiwan. We have been manufacturing in the Far East for over 25 years and have a wealth of experience in the field.
The London based design and development department handle all development of our own ranges and custom work for our clients. Using in house sculptors, mould makers and technicians to produce all our master mannequins and moulds which can be used for UK production or more often our China production. All of our mannequin development is handled in the London due to the level of skill required to ensure that the finished product is correctly sculpted and anatomically correct, as well as be aesthetically pleasing. We can boast that we are one of the only mannequin manufacturers in the world that offers a full custom service to our clients using our own in house team. This results in quick turnaround, constant control of the development process, a cohesive look for a range of mannequins as the sculptor stays the same throughout and ultimately a superior product.
The China production facility is our main point of manufacture, being able to produce up to 3,500 mannequins per month. It is an extension of the work that we do in the UK and is an integral part of how the business is successful. We have extremely high standards of quality and controls in place to ensure that this is maintained. We have a dedicated, fully trained and skilled workforce, who maintains a constant rate of top quality work. Our track record with major retailers around the world and other display companies who we produce for is testament to this. We also have in house sculptors and mould makers. These sculptors are not to a high enough standard to actually sculpt mannequins or heads etc to the standard that we require but are able to emulate any products such as decorative pieces. Our mould makers are of the highest standard and replicate the items moulded here in the UK for production in the China facility.
How we do it?
We are a truly scalable business, allowing a reduced overhead and the ability to pass these savings on to our clients. We have a core of professionals who are the best at what they do and these people are the soul of the business and give us the expertise in all fields necessary to produce and deliver a quality item. When demand requires we pull into our own premises and under our direct supervision, subcontractors/freelancers who have worked with us for many years and fit directly into our team to allow an extension of our services and increase our productivity. Therefore allowing us to complete projects in a timelier manner, but with the same high standards that we deliver from our own in house team.
We have built long standing relationships with shippers, both domestically and internationally
allowing again an extension of our own business and the understanding required to get finished
goods distributed and delivered in a timely manner and in the condition that they left our premises in.
With this extended network that our shippers bring – we have hubs in several key cities in the world
which allow us a greater ease of distribution.
We have experience. We have for many years been a ‘roll-out’ company who know how to deal in
volume. We have a huge workforce in China and a huge amount of space. This enables us to
assemble and allocate goods at source thus reducing the amount of time required in the UK for
onward distribution. However, we also have a tremendous team in the UK that has been trained for
volume and has huge experience in same day movement of large volumes of goods for roll out
situations. These are a regular occurrence for the likes of Monsoon, Dorothy Perkins, Jane Norman,
Principles and Mexx.
We have our own manufacturing plant in China. This not only allows us cost effective production,
but control. Not only can we be sure that the product is manufactured to the correct specifications,
as per our original masters, but to the highest quality. We have the ability to move production
around to meet the demands of our clients and ‘do miracles’ where necessary.
Why us?
With the infrastructure we have in place and the many years experience we have in design, production and roll-out of goods to major retailers, we have everything in place to implement your requirements in a trouble free and efficient manner at a price that is below market value, thus giving you value and a superior product.
How we work
We are a tight and well organized team. Each staff member has a specific role and in this way responsibility and accountability is departmentalized. Our clients have access to all senior management and a list of phone numbers, extensions and mobile phone numbers will be supplied in order for you to always be able to contact the relevant contact.
As previously advised, we are scalable and dependant on the job that we are doing, we often bring in additional subcontractors/freelancers in order to deal with specific tasks.
Scope of services
Services offered
The following services relate to mannequins, forms and all other display related items
Conceptual design
Prototyping
Manufacture
Distribution
After sales service
Conceptual Design
From your brief we are able to work with you to design a range of mannequins that suits the brands individual needs. The initial concepts are often taken from existing mannequins which can be altered or from sketches and tear sheets which can be emulated in the sculpting process.
Prototyping
Once the concept has been agreed, we will either amend product that we current have to suit or create new. The process starts with the sculpting of a new mannequin or parts in clay and then goes to the plaster moulding and master stage. Approval of the mannequin is made at the clay stage although alterations can be made at a later stage. Once approved we create production moulds to allow the piece to be manufactured.
Manufacture
Goods will be manufactured in our China facility to enable cost efficiency and speed of manufacture. Goods will be quality controlled and packed ready for distribution. Goods will then be shipped to London for distribution to stores. Make-up and wigs can be provided where required, although we offer this service in the UK also.
Distribution
Once goods arrive on a container from China, the container will be unpacked and split. Goods are then distributed through our reputable delivery partners throughout the UK and into foreign stores. When good arrive in the UK further quality checks are conducted prior to despatch. At all stages the distribution is logged and your account manager is aware of the whereabouts of your deliveries. We of course are also able to store goods on a rolling basis dependant on your requirements.
After sales service
We offer renovation, respray, make-up and replacement wig services. We can arrange for goods to be collected from stores and returned after relevant services have been provided. We can set up a specific help line number for your stores to call in case of questions or the requirement of further service
Summary
We are in a unique position to fulfil all your requirements with expedience, efficiency and economically. All the design requirements you have and may require going forward are easily achieved and we can do this in house, using a team of experts that have been through this process countless numbers of times before. We have a manufacturing facility which is second to none in China and this allows cost reductions, speed of manufacture but still producing the quality of product required. Our distribution network is strong and efficient and our support team is well versed in these situations.
We pride ourselves on being able to achieve this in everything that we do and are very serious and proud of our reputation and growing business.