Success set to grow as beard care firm has success in China
ABEARD care business is storming the China market and is set to make £2million in the next 12 months.
Hawkins & Brimble has a range of products for men including hair and skin care.
The Cheltenham-based company was established in 2016, and with a work force of six, but now the company has really taken off.
Founder Stephen Shortt, 49 from the town, said: “We wanted a British brand name. Hawkins & Brimble was chosen as a 1920’s brand name which was important for our export markets.
“The brand came about due to my frustration of the lack of choice for men.
“I have sensitive skin and I wanted to use products without parabens, and things like mineral oils.”
The process from idea to trading took around a year to come to fruition.
Mr Shortt said: “I started this process on my own. I took the idea and found a design agency. Then I found a factory to help formulate the products.
“Then for a number of months I had feedback on the products from family, friends and some members of the public.”
Just six months later Mr Shortt started to take on staff and he considers his employees like a family.
With that he believes staff need to have the opportunity to be flexible and to factor in family life.
Products have been given the okay by Mr Shortt who also looks to get the okay on the product from his wife.
The already successful company is set to continue to soar. This is as a result of support from Alibaba’s Group, this Chinese technology company found a niche for the men’s care products in China, Mr Shortt said.
He added: “We have been helped by Alibaba’s to get products distributed there in China as it is not easy, you need a good distributor.”
General manager of Alibaba Group, UK, Nordics and Netherlands David Lloyd said: “Hawkins & Brimble’s distinct British style, high quality ingredients and eye catching packaging has meant the brand has been able to quickly grab the attention of Chinese consumers during the last few months and tap into the country’s rapidly growing men’s grooming market.
“Our latest research shows that almost a quarter of UK small businesses feel they’re ‘too small’ to sell their products overseas, instead preferring to sell to the UK market only.
“Hawkins & Brimble is an example of a British brand that, despite employing just six people, has set itself up to export from the outset and is now reaping the rewards.”
Even with the forecast of the company over the next year being positive, most companies have been looking to what Brexit will mean for them.
He said: “There are positives and negatives with Brexit.
“We will negotiate deals in the EU but our growth is not Europe.
“It has been a costly process having to change packaging labels to EU products. Plus businesses have had to sign to a new registration.
“We have a new warehouse that has been set up in Germany. Brexit was the catalyst for the new warehouse.
“We are all pleased with how this has developed. Everyone is very proud.”
We are all pleased with how this has developed. Everyone is very proud.