Loving Outdoors founder Scott Woodhead

The boss of an outdoor retailer weathering the recession urged others in the industry to go back to basics and put service at the heart of their businesses.

Scott Woodhead, who started Loving Outdoors after a serious car accident left him with a broken back, said the company views itself as a service company that happens to sell products.

The Manchester-based online retailer had a 20 per cent growth in November sales and was up 55 per cent in December.

Mr Woodhead said: “We launched in a competitive market during a recession, so some may say my timing was out but we’re still here and have grown on average 80 per cent each year since we launched.”

Loving Outdoors is now on the lookout for investment to increase the number of products it sells to its customers and is forecasting revenues of £1m

Scott Woodhead with TV 'Dragon' Theo Paphitis

The retailer offers free delivery and a 90-day return policy.

Mr Woodhead added: “The retail industry is under a lot of pressure and I would urge them to go back to basics, focusing on adding value through products and service.

“It’s a killer combination able to weather most retail storms and as Hal Borland said, ‘no winter lasts forever, no spring skips its turn’ – so stay strong, the best is still to come.”

Loving Outdoors appointed Cate Hulme as chief financial officer and she still holds the record for the youngest female CFO of a public company.

“Having Cate on board has been great. She can crunch numbers with the very best of them but also has a sound business head too – a rare mix in my experience,” Mr Woodhead said.

Loving Outdoors won the #SBS 2012 Business Award from Theo Paphitis. The award, run on social media website Twitter, recognises UK businesses that Mr Paphitis himself thinks stand out from the crowd.