Green business handed new award

AN innovative Leominster entrepreneur has celebrated her fifth anniversary after securing a prestigious national award.

Naomi Andersson’s Green Hands business, a specialist in ethical and environmentally friendly beauty products, was chosen as a winner of the inaugural ‘Smarta 100’, a national competition aimed at recognising the UK’s smartest small businesses.

Supported by Business Link West Midlands, the qualified nail technician impressed a high profile judging panel featuring Dragons Den’s Deborah Meaden and Bebo founder Michael Birch with the way she differentiates her business from bigger brands with massive advertising budgets.

Judges singled out how she had built up a range of natural products from scratch, including two of her own products in Green Hands glass nail file and the organic cuticle and nail oil.

Mrs Andersson, who combines life as an entrepreneur with being a mother to two young children, said the recognition was important for her business.

“Being chosen as a Smarta100 company gives me confidence in what I am doing, makes me even more motivated to keep growing and adds external credibility to our business,” she said.

Established in 2005, Green Hands was set up after she spotted a gap in the beauty and body care industry for a range of environmentally friendly products.

She began by tapping into accounting and marketing support from Business Link WM before building up a fifteen-strong product list which she sells online and via a small shop in Leominster.

The ambitious entrepreneur, who also offers pedicure and manicure treatments, has increased turnover by 30% year on year and hopes to build on this by developing three new products and breaking into the high street for the first time.

“I discovered how my own bathroom cabinet was jammed full of harsh chemical substances and toxins and knew that in today’s eco-conscious time a move to natural products, which retained the same level of look and performance, would go down really well,” she said.

“Our organic nail and cuticle oil has proved really popular and even secured an award from the Green Beauty Bible as the top nail strengthening product.

“Being an entrepreneur is not easy, so I’ve tried to use as much help and support as possible. Business Link WM, in particular, has been excellent in giving me assistance when I needed it most,”

Chris Bargman, of Business Link WM, said: “Naomi has shown great innovation and determination to grow her company and for it to be recognised by such high profile business leaders is a great testament to her achievements.

“We’ve worked with her from the outset and will continue to support Green Hands as it looks to establish itself as a leading provider of natural products.”