About Us

A Controlled, Brand-Safe Approach to Designer Wholesale

our story

BRAND DIRECT UK

BrandDirect UK is a strategic wholesale buying house operating across luxury and premium fashion. With over 20 years’ experience, we work with brands, distributors, approved buyers, and investment partners to manage inventory, distribution, and value recovery through controlled wholesale and private sales strategies.

Our business has evolved through direct market experience, from early-stage liquidation and surplus stock execution to principal wholesale buying, private sales campaigns, and international distribution. Today, we combine buying power, authentication, operational infrastructure, and market insight to support both brand-led inventory management and efficient clearance where required.

This approach allows us to operate with control and accountability at every stage, ensuring commercial outcomes are achieved without compromising brand positioning or primary distribution channels.

our Mission

The BDUK Mission

Our mission is to be a trusted, scalable wholesale distribution partner for the designer fashion industry, providing brands with a controlled and brand-safe route to market.

We work to ensure inventory is managed responsibly and strategically, balancing value recovery with long-term brand positioning. Through secure, trade-only relationships, we give retailers and bulk buyers access to verified designer stock, while maintaining the integrity of primary distribution channels.

COMPANY HISTORY & MILESTONES

History & Milestones of BDUK

2009
Foundation

AMS Tradings was founded by Adam Sweetingham in 2009. Established without external investment, the business began as a small-scale operation focused on identifying, structuring, and executing liquidation and surplus stock transactions within the wholesale market.

1
2012
Strategic Focus
In 2012, AMS Tradings identified a clear opportunity within the branded fashion sector and made the decision to specialise, focusing its activity and expertise on this segment of the wholesale market.
2
2013
Operational Expansion
In 2013, AMS Tradings secured its first dedicated 5,000 sq ft warehouse in Witney, Oxfordshire. This move marked the transition into a more established operation and supported the expansion of the team from a single founder to five employees.
3
2015
Strategic Partnerships
By 2015, an ongoing collaboration with Brands4Less evolved into a close professional partnership between Adam Sweetingham and Cem Yigitbas. This phase laid the groundwork for aligned commercial strategy and future cross-border expansion.
4
2016
Sales Channel Expansion
In 2016, AMS Tradings and Brands4Less began collaborating on structured sales campaigns, working with private sales companies and emerging digital sales channels to support inventory clearance and broader market reach.
5
2018
Industry Recognition
2018 marked a turning point as AMS Tradings and Brands4Less began to be engaged directly by premium brands and established retailers to support the clearance of excess inventory, reflecting growing recognition of their capability and market reach.
6
2019
Formation of BrandDirect UK
In 2019, AMS Tradings and Brands4Less formally merged their operations. This milestone marked the incorporation of BrandDirect UK under BDUK Trading Ltd, establishing a unified structure to support expanded wholesale buying, private sales execution, and international growth.
7
2020
Commercial Milestone
In 2020, BrandDirect UK surpassed £1 million in annual turnover, marking a significant commercial milestone and reflecting the continued growth of the business following its formal incorporation.
8
2021
Strategic Relocation
Following the commercial and logistical challenges introduced by Brexit, BrandDirect UK made the strategic decision in 2021 to pivot its operating model. UK operations were wound down, and the company relocated its headquarters to the Netherlands to support continued European trade and operational efficiency.
 
9
2023
European Expansion
In 2023, BrandDirect UK opened a second strategic warehouse in Germany, strengthening its European infrastructure and supporting increased capacity for wholesale buying, private sales execution, and cross-border distribution.
10
2025
UK Re-entry & New Ventures
In 2025, BrandDirect UK secured a major new UK contract to work with leading high-end outlet operators, marking the re-establishment of its UK operations following its European expansion.
 
The same year also saw the launch phase of ThreadShed.com, with implementation underway ahead of its planned start date in February 2026.
11
2026
BrandDirect UK Digital Relaunch
In 2026, BrandDirect UK launched its new corporate website, reflecting the evolution of the business into a fully established strategic wholesale buying house with expanded European and UK operations.
13
Today

Today, BrandDirect UK operates internationally as a trusted wholesale buying and distribution partner, applying decades of experience to every relationship.

14

Meet the founders

Managing Partners

Adam Sweetingham, Founder & CEO

As Founder and CEO of BrandDirect UK, Adam leads overall strategy, deal structuring, and key commercial relationships. He works closely with brands, distributors, and buyers to design controlled wholesale and private sales solutions that balance speed, discretion, and long-term brand value, while maintaining alignment with wider market and brand objectives.

Cem Yigitbas, Co-Founder & COO

As Co-Founder and Chief Operations Officer of BrandDirect UK, Cem leads operational delivery, systems, and infrastructure. He brings extensive experience across national and international logistics, working closely with partners to ensure wholesale and private sales activity is executed efficiently, securely, and in line with distribution and brand requirements.

Why us

Our Values

Integrity

We operate with transparency and accountability at every stage of the supply chain, ensuring confidence and trust for both suppliers and buyers.

Consistency

We prioritise reliable, repeatable supply and long-term partnerships, delivering dependable outcomes rather than one-off transactions.

Quality

All stock is verified, positioned appropriately, and handled with care, protecting brand value while reinforcing buyer confidence.