Talk Business

TAKE ONE COMPANY
TALK SUCCESS
Vital statistics
Company founded: October 2012.
Start up capital: Not disclosed.
Turnover: £100,000.
Profit: N/A.
Growth rate: From February Keep
It Kind has been sold at 550 Boots’
stores nationwide and at the moment is
exclusive to Boots’.
Biggest achievement: Bringing
something that helps health and
wellbeing to the public that has never
been available before.
Despite hitting a brick wall
with funding, the couple never
thought about giving up.
‘We knew we had a product
that a lot of parents needed –
we really believed in what we
were doing, so not once did
we think about giving up, we
had a responsibility to get the
product out there, we had to
fight,’ Roberta says.
An important part of the
product was that it was childfriendly
and suitable for sensitive
skin. It took two years and lot of
research to get the formulation
of the product right – so that
it contained no aluminium, no
parabens and no alcohol.
‘Instead, the deodorant
contains an antibacterial
agent that kills the bacteria
which produces the odour,’
Michael says. ‘It still lets the
wearer perspire and allows
the skin to breathe.’
Last October, Michael
and Roberta perfected the
formulation, and made an
appointment with Boots’
buyers, who agreed to see
them straight away.
We hadn’t
even designed
the final
artwork but
Boots wanted
our product
‘We hadn’t even designed the
final artwork but Boots wanted
our product on an exclusive
basis – it was all about the
product itself,’ Michael says.
‘Keep It Kind was in their
warehouses by January and
soon rolled out to 550 stores.’
The exclusivity contract with
Boots comes to an end in January
and the couple are looking
get Keep it Kind into more
stores. They’re also looking at
expansion in terms of products
too – with a teen range, shower
and bath gels, and products that
neutralise smelly school bags.
‘We’re still only at the
beginning of our journey – but
our advice to any entrepreneur
would be to believe in what
you’re doing and never give
up,’ Roberta says.
Despite a successful 25 years in
business – Roberta and Michael
say Keep It Kind is the most
exciting project yet.
‘This tops the lots,’ says Michael.
‘It has given us a new lease of life.’
The couple are a perfect
example that no matter what
age, when an entrepreneur gets
a good idea they have to take it
to market – they’re never quite
ready to wind down.
talkbusinessmagazine.co.uk
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