What sets exceptional founders apart, and how do they take an initial concept and turn it into a scalable enterprise? We’ve been speaking with customers to understand the journey.
Julie Chen and Chris Forbes launched Cheeky Panda, a company producing eco-friendly tissue products and wipes made from bamboo, renowned as the planet’s fastest-growing plant. The pair often say the business “has been growing as fast as bamboo,” supported by streamlined processes and a robust financial platform.
Spotting a Sustainable Business Opportunity
Cheeky Panda started in 2016 after discovering in western China that local bamboo could make quality toilet tissue. Seeing its potential to fight deforestation, they created a sustainable brand using renewable bamboo instead of trees, helping reduce tree use and protect forests.
“We were so amazed at how much bamboo was there in the region, and only 10% were used, leaving 90% underutilised,” said Chen. “For us, putting it to use was just a no-brainer.”
Following a successful crowdfunding effort, the founders designed their first product, arranged manufacturing in China and shipped stock to the UK. They initially sold through Amazon before expanding into premium physical retail channels.
“We started small, turning over just £1,000 per month,” said Chen. “And then it snowballed. Today, we have a business that turns over £14 million annually, with a head office in London and subsidiaries in China, the United States and Ireland, and 35 people working across the world.”
Strengthening Financial Oversight, Inventory Visibility and Reporting
Rapid expansion and inflationary pressures prompted the team to reassess their operational systems. Chen and Forbes recognised the need for a unified business management platform capable of offering transparent financial insight across multiple geographies. They selected NetSuite OneWorld for its ability to consolidate financial data from international subsidiaries while accommodating 190 currencies.
“NetSuite has been a very important part of our growth,” said Forbes. “We adopted it quite early in our journey, which was the right decision. NetSuite OneWorld gives us a centralised view of accounting processes, data and reporting across the 25 countries we operate in. We can always get a snapshot of the company’s financial health.”
The impact extended far beyond financial consolidation. Inventory management, once “impossible” in Forbes’s words, became far more controlled. With NetSuite, the team "can see inventory KPIs clearly,” he said. “We don’t have to purchase overstock or end up understocked. NetSuite offers an easy and simple way to manage demand.”
Cheeky Panda sells both direct-to-consumer and through wholesale partners, making accurate reporting essential. The business now analyses SKU-level performance by region and uses those insights to guide production decisions.
“Without NetSuite, we wouldn’t be able to understand the sales and profitability of every single channel, class or product overseas,” said Chen. “With NetSuite, we see it instantly.” Sustainability has been central to the brand from day one. To demonstrate tangible progress on its environmental and social commitments, the company tracks ESG metrics closely.
Using NetSuite reporting, it records the weight of finished goods and sends that information to a carbon calculator to determine emissions generated during production. This allows the team to quantify the number of trees they must help save to offset their carbon output, a commitment at the heart of their model.
Our Retail Futures Tomorrow’s Vision (opens in new tab) report found that 60% of consumers show a preference for companies that have supply chain transparency – and as early as 2027, companies may not be able to sell their products in certain countries unless they provide transparent reporting on the sustainability of their operations.
The report also found that 98% of UK CEOs expect to make material changes to their business or operating model this year. According to Forbes, NetSuite is vital in supporting Cheeky Panda’s profitability goals. With NetSuite in place, the team is confident it has the systems needed to support growth now and into the future.
“The ambition is to build Cheeky Panda into a £50 million turnover business and a household name,” he said. “I’d like it to be a go-to choice for young people when they start their families. I love to see people adopt Cheeky Panda as part of their lifestyle.”
Explore how other organisations are using NetSuite to reach their growth ambitions.
