Why Brenden Carr is backing a bold new British brand
Brenden Carr, founder of Washington based Caztec Group, has grown a small electrical engineering business into a million-pound company working with some of Britain’s biggest infrastructure organisations. But despite that success, he is now turning his entrepreneurial instincts towards a completely different challenge – creating FINK, a premium golf and lifestyle brand with international ambitions.
“I’ve always enjoyed building businesses,” Brenden explains. “Engineering has been my business life for over 25 years, but I enjoy creating something new. FINK is about taking everything I’ve learned in business and applying it to a completely different industry.”
Brenden began as an apprentice electrician before spending eight years working in London and on projects across the UK and overseas. He returned to the North East to establish Caztec Group in 2000.
Today the company employs 20 people and delivers specialist electrical engineering projects for major organisations including Network Rail, Siemens, Scottish Power, Hitachi and the NHS. National recognition has followed, including Contractor of the Year honours, but Brenden has always kept a low profile and concentrated on delivering solutions for his loyal client base.
This success has given Brenden the platform to pursue a long-held ambition of creating a premium brand with genuine international potential.
A passionate golfer, Brenden believes the values that underpin the sport – precision, respect, attention to detail and continual improvement – mirror the principles that have helped him build a successful engineering business. Those same values now sit at the heart of FINK.
The idea was born when Caztec Group began supporting a young North East professional golfer. Brenden and his son David combined their vision to create a premium golf wear brand designed to stand out in a competitive market.
Rather than rushing products to market, the pair spent months travelling internationally, visiting manufacturers, reviewing countless fabric samples and meeting suppliers before deciding who would produce the collection. They refused to compromise until they were completely satisfied that every garment met the standards associated with the FINK name.
“We wanted people to pick up one of our garments and immediately feel the quality,” said David. “There are plenty of clothing brands out there, but we wanted to create something that genuinely stands out through its materials, style, fit and finish.”
To ensure the collection combines performance with contemporary style, FINK works with an experienced fashion designer based in Manchester. Together they have created garments that perform on the golf course while looking equally at home away from the fairways, reinforcing the company’s ambition to become a premium lifestyle brand rather than simply another golf clothing label.
Everything about Fink is UK based – artwork, website, online store, packaging and marketing. It’s something the FINK brand insisted on. They wanted UK companies involved in the journey.
Rather than relying on conventional advertising, FINK is building its reputation through the world of professional golf. The company sponsors two professional golfers who wear the brand while competing, helping introduce FINK to audiences across the UK as well as overseas.
Brenden is also a familiar face at golf tournaments, where he meets golfers, retailers and industry professionals while showcasing the collection. From championship events to prestigious golfing venues, these appearances have become an important part of the company’s growth strategy, allowing potential customers to experience the quality of the garments first-hand.
“Golf attracts people who appreciate quality, craftsmanship and premium products,” he says. “It’s a natural environment for introducing FINK to people who value those things.”
While golf provides an important platform, Brenden is keen to stress that FINK is not simply a golf clothing label.
“We’re creating a premium lifestyle brand. Golf has given us an excellent opportunity to introduce people to FINK, but our ambition goes far beyond the fairways.”
Every aspect of the business has been carefully considered with long-term growth in mind.
“This isn’t a side project,” Brenden says. “We’re building a brand with its own identity and a clear vision for the future.”
The launch collection of nine products proved an immediate success, selling out quickly, with orders shipped to customers around the world. The response has reinforced Brenden’s belief that there is strong demand for a British premium brand that places quality above volume.
“We have Premier League footballers, professional golfers and England cricketers wearing our launch collection” Brenden stated. “The support we have had already has been amazing.”
Although engineering remains at the heart of his business life, Brenden now spends much of his spare time developing the FINK brand, travelling to golfing events, meeting potential partners and retailers, and along with his son David, decide future collections as the brand continues to expand.
“Whether it’s engineering or fashion, the principles are exactly the same,” he says. “Success comes from quality, hard work, consistency and building trust.”
As the Brand grows, so does the commitment of this father and son duo, who’s work ethic is a testament to the focus, drive and desire that they possess in abundance.
www.finkgolfwear.com