On 7 June 2018 we ran our 8th Export Action Plan competition with BubbleBum (UK) Limited taking home the £3000 cash prize.
In the latest of our finalist case studies, we speak to My Brow Care about their export plans and their tips for future entrants to the competition.
What does your company do at the moment and what’s next?
My Brow Care manufactures cosmetic products to care for eyebrows. We saw an opportunity in the market for semi permanent make up (tattooed makeup) aftercare.
We also saw a gap in the market for aftercare for threading treatments. Threading is hair removal with a cotton thread; this is very traditional and popular in the Middle East and India.
How are the exports going?
At the moment we export to Germany and the UAE. We are keen to develop exports to India and hope the Institute of Export can support us in this area.
How has the Export Action Plan helped with your exports?
It enabled us to identify the best market for us to target relative to our resources, strengths and identified where we need extra support.
How have you found the experience of the final today?
It was great to listen to others’ experiences, hear their challenges, meet others who manufacture products in the UK, and hear how they manage price fluctuations for raw materials in the current climate.
What three tips would you give to other new exporters?
- Focus what type of customer who want – are they selling similar products globally, do want a distributor or B to C?
- Improve social media skills and knowledge – constantly changing
- Use as many support system as possible Open to Export, Institute of Export, DIT and others exporting – it saves so much time and valuable resources to learn from others.
Enter your Export Action Plan into the Open to Export International Business Awards for the chance to win $5000 at a showcase final in Geneva this October.
About My Brow Care
I had a microblading brow (Tattoo’s to eyebrows) treatment in April 2017 and was given a sachet of poor quality cheap cream commonly sold on EBay for 20p. After researching alternatives I identified a need for aftercare products for brow treatments and semi-permanent make up.
In 2017 I, Bernie Mulligan, with Abby Crowhurst founded My Brow Care. I am experienced at making award winning natural products and Abby has been a brow consultant for 20 years, teaching, exhibiting and working as a brow consultant at a prestigious training academy in Cheshire. Between us we worked out what type of products were best and which ingredients could be used to achieve the healing and maintenance properties required.
We sent samples of the to high profile Academy’s and received an amazing response from them – they loved the product and packaging. We entered The Pure Beauty Awards 2017 in the category for Best New British Beauty Brand. The final was held at the Savoy in October 2017 and we were thrilled to win the Gold Award.
We have joined global market forums for microblading and have been actively engaging with overseas microblading suppliers. I have registered the trademark in the UK but have found that registering IP outside the EU is very expensive and difficult and would appreciate support in that area. Gaining IP in the Middle East will cost £3,500.
We have the capacity to increase capacity enormously and have agreed costs with contract manufacturers and a packaging company that will increase production without having to increase our other overheads or move premises.
We are increasing our range and have just released a serum to care for threaded (very popular in the Asian markets) and waxed brows. Later in the year we will add products for scalp tattoo’s washes and gels.
F: Mybrowcare
T: @mybrowcare
