At Partridge Peartree, we are incredibly proud to officially announce that we are joining the Wild Thang family, marking an exciting new chapter in our journey as one of Northern Ireland’s leading branded clothing, merchandise and print businesses. For our customers, one thing remains exactly the same: the same local NI team, the same first-class service and the same trusted relationships you have relied on for decades, now backed by an even bigger creative branding family. This is not about losing who we are, it is about strengthening what we do best while creating exciting new opportunities for our customers, team and future growth.
Founded in L’Derry in 1988, Partridge Peartree has proudly supported organisations across Northern Ireland, Ireland, the UK and beyond with branded merchandise, uniforms, promotional products, print and creative solutions. Over nearly four decades, we have built our reputation on creativity, customer service, quality and trusted long-term relationships. Joining forces with Wild Thang felt like a natural fit from the very beginning, bringing together two family-run businesses that share the same values: integrity, ethical business practices, innovation, and a commitment to always putting customers first. Together, we now bring 68 years of combined experience, knowledge and industry expertise into one exciting partnership.
This partnership will significantly strengthen what we can offer our customers while continuing to deliver the same personalised service and local expertise that defines Partridge Peartree. Through Wild Thang’s wider group operations spanning Liverpool, Dublin and New Jersey, alongside world-class in-house production facilities, we can now offer greater production capacity, stronger ethical supply chain support, enhanced digital and on-demand technology solutions and access to an even broader range of branded merchandise, clothing and print. Most importantly, our customers will continue working with the same trusted local team they know, now supported by additional resources, expertise and international reach.
As businesses, both Partridge Peartree and Wild Thang share a strong commitment to responsible business, creativity and long-term sustainable growth. Wild Thang’s recent B Corp certification and ESG leadership for responsible sourcing and ethical procurement strongly align with our own values and vision for the future. This partnership creates exciting opportunities to share best practices across sustainability, technology innovation, operational excellence, and business development, while helping customers access stronger commercial solutions without compromising on service, quality, or creativity. For us, this is about building a stronger future together while staying true to the values that shaped our business from day one.
Demonstrating long-term commitment to Northern Ireland and the wider Northwest business community, Wild Thang Directors John Howarth and Sarah Howarth have relocated to the region, creating a direct leadership presence and reinforcing ongoing investment in local growth, customer relationships and community engagement. We firmly believe this partnership represents a strong vote of confidence in the future of business across the Northwest and creates exciting opportunities for collaboration, innovation and regional growth for years to come.
Clare Higgins, Director at Partridge Peartree Promotions, commented: “Like us, our new partners, Wild Thang, are a family-owned business with a passion for excellence in promotional merchandise. Having followed similar journeys in business, we quickly recognised a natural fit in our company cultures. This is more than an acquisition. It is a coming together of minds, shared values and a common ambition for the future. While our name and the trusted team our customers know in Northern Ireland remain the same, we are now strengthened by a larger Wild Thang family, bringing exciting new opportunities, greater capacity and enhanced innovation.”
Clare added: “We would also like to thank the fantastic Wild Thang team for their hard work, dedication and commitment in helping make this acquisition and transition happen so smoothly. Most importantly, thank you to our loyal customers and incredible team for being part of our journey over the last 38 years. The best is truly yet to come.”
John Howarth, Group Global Supply & Contract Director at Wild Thang, also commented: “Carl and Marc have built a respected business with an outstanding reputation among clients and suppliers. We are delighted they will continue to support the integration journey. I also recognise Clare Higgins for her leadership, knowledge and unwavering commitment to the team throughout this process. This partnership is an exciting step forward for everyone involved, and we’re incredibly excited to build on Partridge Peartree’s success together.”
As Partridge Peartree begins this exciting new chapter, our business remains firmly rooted in L’Derry and fully committed to our customers, people and the wider regional business community. With even stronger capabilities, shared decades of expertise, even more opportunities to deliver one world class branding solution and exactly the same trusted team, we genuinely believe the future looks brighter than ever before. A proud L’Derry and Northern Irish business story continues, built on the same values with an even stronger future ahead.
