Beauty entrepreneur with spark wins big with John Lewis deal
AN award-winning entrepreneur who set up the UK’s first ‘free-from’ skincare brand will see her products hit the shelves of luxury department store, John Lewis after a successful year with Entrepreneurial Spark.
Myroo Skincare’s range of handmade, vegan, allergy-friendly products will be available from the Victoria Gate John Lewis as of October 20 when the store launches in Leeds.
Founder of Myroo Skincare, Rachael (or Roo) Dunseath said: “It’s just so exciting – when I joined Entrepreneurial Spark they asked, what are your goals, where do you want to be in 12 months’ time?
“And one of the things I said at the time was I’d love to be in John Lewis and here I am 12 months later live, launched and stocking John Lewis!
“Behind closed doors, it felt like a bit of a dream, I just couldn’t believe that that would happen to me and my business!”
The Yorkshire-based business – which currently runs from Rachael’s converted garage – had been running for six years as a natural skincare brand before relaunching its free-from skincare range in February this year.
Since relaunching, the company has received two free-from skincare awards and a £10,000 cash prize to help move the business forward. Rachael herself has also been crowned Entrepreneur of the Moment at Entrepreneurial Spark.
Having suffered with sensitive skin and allergies all her life, the mum-of-two set out to make life easier for people like her, and in doing so has provided an alternative to large corporate brands.
She said: “I think there’s a bit of a movement going on where people are fed up of big brands, lack of transparency, honesty and having to deal with faceless businesses.
“We are the only ones that bring the whole piece together. As an allergy sufferer I know what it’s like stood in the aisles reading the back of the label of a big brand, thinking can I have this? Can I not? Has it got that mystery ingredient lurking somewhere in it?”
Fortunately for her customers, every Myroo skincare product is suitable for vegans and allergy-sufferers.
“So you know if you’ve got a nut allergy you can come to us and buy any single product and it will be absolutely fine for you.”
The handmade products are created in her ‘lab’ in small batches to ensure each ingredient is treated with care and the key nutrients within the can be appropriately preserved.
But the lack of a skincare brand for allergy-sufferers isn’t just a UK issue as Rachael is now finding. She is aiming to grow her company abroad and is jetting off to New York with the Department of International Trade next month in the hopes of exporting her wares to America.
During this time of expansion, Rachael is planning to move into a larger premises and take on flexible staff, who just like her, have to juggle childcare with working life.
