Styling and imaging can be man’s world

A PRESTON man has bought international styling and image company Colour Me Beautiful in the UK, Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

Cliff Bashforth, 57, was the company’s top-selling consultant – and its only male consultant – in a 28-year career.

He initially bought the CMB cosmetics’ brand in 2015 and then purchased the remainder recently. He now heads a network of 1,200 self-employed consultants and stylists.

He was brought up in a Middleton council house and studied at the city’s High School of Art before getting a job as a trainee salesman with electric giant Dixons.

Bashforth moved to work for hair products’ company Wella which sent the sales force to CMB to improve their image.

He was hooked and began working for CMB in his spare-time, selling products from the converted garage of his home. He then became full-time and during his career created a client base of more than 20,000 people including senior company directors, TV presenters and politicians.

Major blue chip companies including banks, financial institutions and airlines called on Mr Bashforth’s expertise throughout the UK and Europe. He ran seminars and training courses for companies and in 2012 oversaw the launch of CMB books in Russia and the Ukraine.

The same year he was awarded an Honorary Fellowship by the University of Central Lancashire for his contribution to the image industry.

Bashforth, however, wanted to take the business further himself and bought the company. He has already re-designed the website to make it easier and more efficient for both consultants and the public and has further plans to modernise the brand.

He said: “Our turnover last year was £1.1m and I want to make it more than £10m in 10 years’ time.”