Eco-friendly idea that paint half hot
Dear BIZ
I have created an eco-friendly chalk and mineral paint brand – Frenchic (frenchicpaint.co.uk). I launched it three years ago on the back of my passion for bringing old furniture back to life.
I wanted to create a range that was eco-friendly and safe for painting children’s toys and furniture, with no volatile organic compounds, toxins or solvents – and with virtually no smell.
I’ve now got 30 colours in the original range and have a new Lazy Range of 15 colours with added wax for an immediate finish, and an Alfresco range for outdoor projects. Things are going really well and I’ve managed to get our products into hundreds of standalone shops.
I’m now trying to raise more awareness among people who are into upcycling, rather than spending vast amounts on new pieces of furniture.
BIZ replies
That is impressive, getting your new product into shops across the globe in just a few years. Upcycling, or creative re-use of products, is the big new trend and you now need to let the people interested in this know of your range. A lot of people will have bits of old furniture in their garage or loft gathering dust, that they plan to make over when they have time.
But many people don’t know where to start and worry they’ll make a mess of it.
Maybe courses – either online or in shops – would be a perfect way to showcase how easy it can be to transform vintage furniture.
Or you could try to team up with adult education courses to persuade tutors to use your products – the eco-friendly credentials should drive interest.
Bulk buy discounts and offers of demonstrations from you or one of your team could help.