WHAT IS TIGOLI?
Tigoli’s journey began in 2019 under the name Panda Loco, originally focused on selling men’s fashion accessories including ties, cufflinks, and lapel pins. Built from Yorkshire roots with a passion for design and independent retail, the business quickly developed a loyal customer base through its unique product range and community-focused approach.
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Like many independent businesses, the restrictions imposed during 2020–2021 forced us to rethink the future of the company. As consumer demand changed, we diversified our product range and adapted to an evolving online retail landscape. During this period, we faced significant challenges expanding the business, including difficulty securing larger premises due to commercial units being occupied for temporary government grant schemes — despite ourselves qualifying for
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support that was ultimately never received.
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At one stage, relocating the business to Castleford or even overseas was seriously considered. However, an opportunity eventually emerged closer to home: office space in the centre of Scarborough, the town where our founder was born and raised. That decision became a turning point for the company.
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As the business evolved, so did our focus. We moved away from distributing third-party brands and instead invested heavily into developing our own in-house product lines. Tigoli became increasingly manufacturing and design focused, specialising in custom lanyards, enamel pins, novelty gifts, branded accessories, and creative merchandise designed directly by our internal team.
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The company later rebranded from Panda Loco to Tigoli, aligning with the founder’s wider American-based Tigoli brand originating from Chicago. The rebrand reflected a broader vision for the future — combining Yorkshire creativity, independent manufacturing, media production, and modern eCommerce under a single unified identity.
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Since establishing ourselves in Scarborough, we have invested heavily into renovating and transforming our location into a creative media and design space for the Tigoli brand. Beyond commerce, we believe strongly in community involvement and supporting the next generation of local talent. Tigoli has proudly supported numerous local initiatives including becoming a main sponsor of Scarborough Football Club, assisting events such as YMCA programmes and Sci-Fi Scarborough, and launching digitally focused outreach projects with local schools using our media studio facilities.
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Today, Tigoli continues to focus on expanding its branded product ranges, particularly within the lanyard and promotional products sector, while growing export opportunities and expanding our organic global reach. Our mission remains rooted in creating opportunities for the local community while building a modern Yorkshire brand capable of competing internationally without losing its family values or independent spirit.
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Tigoli represents more than a business — it represents resilience, creativity, local pride, and a belief that innovative digital commerce businesses can thrive in coastal and rural communities while helping inspire future generations.
