Gardman’s founder Paris Natar was clearly enjoying his first Glee yesterday as the joint owner of Smart Solar , three years after selling his old company.

Natar bought a majority stake in Jonathan Stobart’s Smart Solar company last April, declaring that retirement after selling Gardman was not for him.

He said it was good to be back and he was looking forward to making a few things happen. Smart Solar was making steady progress in both the UK and export markets (the latter accounting for around 40% of the company’s turnover). Natar believes his experience in sourcing products in China is already making a difference at his new company, enabling an expanded range to be assembled at market-friendly price points.

The company also distributes Haxnicks and Greentrees ranges, which, Natar says, takes Smart Solar into a number of valuable product categories. “We’ll be turning our attention to how we brand these for the future,” he told Glee Daily News.

Paris Natar and Jonathan Stobart cut a cake to mark Smart Solar's 10th birthday.