Storysack was launched four years ago, by three teachers, who hit on the idea of encouraging children to read, by producing cloth bags containing a picture story-book and additional "props" related to the story, including a factual book, soft toy characters, scenery, a game and often an audio tape.
Aimed at three to seven year olds, the idea has proved a winner, giving children the chance to sample different types of literature, as well as developing their oral, organisational and social skills
Storysack, which has 30 staff in Bury, now supplies the pillow-slip sized sacks to primary schools throughout the UK, and is so popular here that it is rapidly expanding abroad.
Its latest distribution agreement is with a business based in Hong Kong, which it sees as a gateway to the huge market to China, and its directors have already visited Shanghai to have talks about setting up a licensing agreement.
A similar agreement is in the pipeline with an American company and it has also signed deals in Germany, the Middle East, India and Cambodia.
Three former teachers are behind the company - Leslie and Christine Howard who worked in Manchester, and Neil Griffiths, from Swindon, who had the original idea.
"We use well-known stories which are well illustrated, to introduce children to the delights of English literature," said Mr Howard, a former primary head teacher advisor in the education support services in Manchester, who with his wife Christine, a part-time teacher, retired in 1990, and went on to develop an education training business - in which they are still involved.
Many schools in the UK have a "library" of the sacks, enabling parents to borrow them, so that parents and children can enjoy reading together in a fun way at home. And the popularity of the sacks here led the directors to look at a whole new market overseas.
With the support of the Passport to Export Success scheme aimed at helping small firms do business abroad, and the assistance of Business Link North Manchester's China and International Team, they are now building business in the Far East.
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