A Leeds-based e-commerce firm that began with a £5,000 investment selling toys is on track to achieve a £9 million turnover and create 20 jobs by 2029, driven by significant export growth across Europe and North America.

Tilz Prosperitas Limited, founded in 2017 by businesswoman Tayo Adebisi, is a global e-commerce and B2B company focused on scaling brands and driving international trade. The business expects to hit £4.5 million in turnover this financial year (ending January 2026), having already achieved £3.5 million.

The company's journey began with locally sourced toys, evolving into the online store TilzMart, before launching its flagship gifting brand, TilzCollection, in 2021. Today, Tilz employs 15 staff in Leeds and exports account for 50% of its current sales, a figure it aims to increase to 65% by 2029.

Tayo Adebisi’s entrepreneurial path was spurred by a high-stress previous role. The turning point came when a manager refused to allow her to leave work to take her one-year-old daughter to the hospital, leading to her resignation. Inspired by a relative's suggestion to sell products online, she launched the business with a clear vision for an affordable household gifting brand.

Tayo’s husband, Dr Oladipo Adewale, joined the firm as Managing Director in May 2024. Together, they accessed specialist support from the West Yorkshire Business Boost’s (WYBB) Leading Growth and Export Programmes to manage their rapid expansion.

Through the WYBB Innovation & Leadership programme, the couple developed a Growth Action Plan and were awarded a grant to work with e-commerce consultant James Lennon. This guidance helped them strengthen wholesale and e-commerce operations.

Mr Adewale also benefited from the Leadership Programme, which strengthened his ability to build a cohesive team, leading to the recruitment of a sales director and two sales representatives. Meanwhile, Ms Adebisi utilised the Leading Growth Programme to steer the development of a new e-commerce consulting and 3PL logistics service.

Critical to their global expansion, the firm was paired with an Export Programme specialist, Karla Tun, who helped develop a sustainable growth plan. They secured trade loans worth up to £200,000 following connections with the Department for Business and Trade, which will enable the business to meet demand and expand further into the US and Canadian markets.

Tayo Adebisi, Founder and CEO of Tilz Prosperitas Limited, said: “The support we’ve received has enabled us to focus on developing critical strategies for growth in a competitive landscape. We’ve gained access to expert guidance, allowing us to refine our export strategy, adopt innovative approaches and strengthen leadership capacity.”

Caroline Kindy, Growth Specialist at West Yorkshire Business Boost, added: “Tilz is a shining example of how great vision, leadership and innovation can play a key role in building operational stability and driving business growth. I’m confident that with this new insight, Tayo and Ola will meet their ambitious plans to treble turnover.”

Tilz plans to expand its B2B sales in the EU and USA by moving into more physical stores and establishing new partnerships. It is also set to broaden its product range to more stable, year-round items and explore new markets including Australia, China, and Mexico.

The firm will soon fully utilise its 8,000 sq ft Leeds facility to offer operational support services—including warehousing, inventory management, and order fulfilment—to other businesses.

In an effort to champion female founders and ethnic minority businesses, Ms Adebisi is also preparing to launch a new e-commerce platform in April. Working with trade departments in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, and India, the portal aims to support digital enterprise and reduce trade barriers for global start-ups connecting with the UK market.