Two expert aromatherapists from North London are experiencing the sweet smell of success after receiving their first department store order, which is expected to more than double their turnover.
Lucy Blair and Sue Whall, founders of Innerscents, a wellbeing company, expect to receive total orders worth around £70,000 in the next few months as a result of an email from the UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) website alert service. In fact, the store loved the Innerscents products so much that they are going to put them in all 17 of their outlets.
The pair signed up to the business alert service in 2009, and three months later heard about an opportunity that was perfect for them. It was from a Japanese department store who wanted to start selling a British body and bath brand. After six months of responding to requests and checking product ingredients with the sales team and their distribution agents, Innerscents aromatherapy wellbeing products were trialled in three stores, winning them £25,000 worth of orders.
Having previously only sold their products to luxury and designer boutique hotels, and through their online store, the orders from the Japanese Department store are expected to kick-start Innerscents? retail journey.
Lucy said:
‘Our North London Business Link Adviser helped us to draw up a business plan and look at how we could develop our exports. He recommended we contact the UKTI. After seeing a UKTI stand at a London exhibition Sue and I signed up to UKTI’s Executive Development Programme. We have been fortunate enough to receive financial assistance from UKTI that has mainly been used to market our products and to create a global brand image.
‘The business email alerts were something that came as part of signing up to UKTI, and as we had nothing to lose, we did it. When I think about it, I can?t believe how one email has managed to change our whole business for the better.
‘The email was a notification that a Japanese distributor was looking for a new natural and wellbeing product. As our products use only pure essential oils and plant-based ingredients, we immediately knew that this could be an invaluable opportunity for Innerscents, and, with the encouragement of our UKTI Adviser, Brian Dent, this has proved to be right.’
Lucy and Sue hope to start employing staff once regular orders from the Japanese store start coming in.
The pair met in New York in 1980 and have worked in aromatherapy since leaving the London School of Aromatherapy in 1986. In 1996 they devised a range of aromatherapy blends based on the chakra centres, which aim to treat mind, body and spirit.
Brian Dent, International Trade Advisor for UKTI said:
‘The UKTI website alert service is something we encourage all companies to sign up to as it brings the latest overseas business opportunities straight into your inbox.
‘I think Innerscents fitted the Japanese distributor’s brief perfectly, as they are committed to purity and respecting the environment. Also Lucy and Sue’s thorough responses to questions from Japan demonstrated real commitment and helped them make this breakthrough.’
