The company, based in Kirkby Stephen, has also acquired an additional warehouse and recruited extra staff, as well as posting an increased turnover.

Chairman Richard Wilson said changes in order trends from its small joinery and furniture manufacturer customers had convinced the firm to look for merchant partners in some areas to improve supply and delivery efficiency.

"The size of orders has been getting smaller and sometimes deliveries can be only 2-3m3, compared to 10m3 previously," said Mr Wilson. "Business times are tough out there.

"Compared to us going around small joinery shops in Bristol making small deliveries, it’s much more efficient to deliver to one merchant there."

Mr Wilson said he was talking to one particular Bristol merchant with a view of it taking over the patch.

He also said RH Wilson’s well-spread business (including five accounts in Norfolk and three in London) meant there were further opportunities in other areas for merchant partnerships.

RH Wilson (Lakes) already deals with several merchants, such as Sykes in Birmingham and Norman Piette in Guernsey.

Meanwhile, the company is predicting a 13-15% growth in turnover in 2013 to £3.2m on the back of 15% growth in the past year, with the business firmly in profit.

Just four weeks ago it acquired another 8,000ft2 undercover warehouse facility to give it 28,000ft2 in total, while additional staff have been recruited, including two trainees.

But a diversification into the supply of hardwoods last year has not reaped the benefits the company had hoped for. It has already exited most hardwood products and said it would probably not stock any in the future.

RH Wilson specifically grades its redwood for end use, a move it says reduces waste for customers while giving them products which are fit-for-purpose.