Elbec Limited (05148676): administration
- Status
- Administration ended
- Administration began
- 2026-07-23
- Administrators
- Kelly Goodman, Joanna Watts
- Administrators' firm
- Begbies Traynor
- Incorporated
- 2004-06-08
- Location
- Norwich
- Industry
- 82990 Other business support service activities n.e.c.
Why it went into administration
- Sustained trading losses
- Funding withdrawn / unable to refinance
- Cash flow / liquidity pressure
- Competition / price pressure
From the administrators' statement
Elbec Limited trading as Elbec Garden Buildings ("the Company”) was incorporated on 8 June 2004 by Martin and Marilyn Bernhofs and commenced trading shortly thereafter. The business traded online fram inception, initially operating websites selling fitness products and outdoor toys before launching a garden buildings website in January 2005, Shire Garden Buildings was the Company's first supplier of garden buildings and remained a supplier throughout the subsequent development of the business. The garden buildings business became the most successful of the Company's activities and by 2009 the Company had ceased its other activities and focused exclusively on the sale of garden buildings.
In August 2015 the Company moved from office premises to a garden centre concession, where a show site was established. In the period following this move, the Company also undertook a significant investment in replacing its ageing website platform. The transition to the new platform resulted in a difficult trading period and the Company incurred losses, which the Directors had anticipated as part of the transition. During this period the Company's bank was no longer prepared to provide the level of support required and the Directors therefore sought additional investment.
In August 2017 the Nigel Hamer Trust acquired a 51% shareholding in Ceble Limited which in turn became the Company's 100% shareholder. The beneficiaries of the Trust also owned Dagless Limited (“Dagless”), trading as Shire Garden Buildings, which had been a significant supplier to the Company for more than 12 years. The investment was intended to combine Dagless's manufacturing capability with the Company's ecommerce, marketing and retail expertise. It was also understood that the Company would receive preferential trading terms from Dagiess.
Administrators' statement of proposals (2026-09-11) · Companies House register