Success Story
| Region/Nation | South West |
|---|---|
| Sector | Sustainability |
| Programme | Start Up Loans |
Former primary school teacher Rosemary Amey first started making soaps just before lockdown to help combat her anxiety. Her friends and family all loved the results of her newfound hobby, and since she was keen to do something more holistic, Rosemary decided to make this her next career move.
I had always been interested in environmentalism and during lockdown I started gardening and found a new level of respect for the world around me. Before this my mentality was “what can I do?” but given the time and space I thought that perhaps if I started to make changes and do something I will be able to influence others. Rosemary Amey Rose & Mary Cosmetics
Rose & Mary Cosmetics is a vegan, sustainable and holistic line of products, which are all handmade my Rosemary herself. The business has grown organically from the start and to reach more people Rosemary took the decision to apply for a Start Up Loan.
Skincare is a part of everyone’s routine, and it is so often full of plastic and toxins. Rose & Mary Cosmetics only uses sustainably and ethically sourced ingredients. I am very careful when choosing suppliers and ensure as many ingredients as possible are sourced in the UK. My packaging is all recyclable or recycled. Rosemary Amey Rose & Mary Cosmetics
Up until taking out the loan in December 2022, Rosemary had used her own savings to fund the businesses. The Start Up Loan enabled her to move into a business premises and workshop, just 10 minutes from home. This set up provides more scope for building the brand so that she can take on larger wholesalers and focus on building partnerships with larger UK retailers.
For anyone out there looking to set up a sustainable business, Rosemary has this advice:
Do your research! Don’t just pluck things out of the air. Before setting up Rose & Mary Cosmetics, I asked the question, “What does my business need?” If you want to be sustainable, make sure that your suppliers can match your ethos. Rosemary Amey Rose & Mary Cosmetics
Tags related to this content:
Quick links
More success stories
Read a success story about Melin Llynon
Restoration of Wales’ last working windmill sees sails turn again on Ynys Môn. Melin Llynon is restored to former glory following funding from Isle of Anglesey County Council and British Business Bank
Read a success story about BKW CrossFit
A group of four friends have joined forces to launch BKW CrossFit, a new community-based gym in East Bristol, with the help of a Start Up Loan from the British Business Bank.
Read a success story about Krapow Thai Restaurant
Phil enjoyed a 17-year career in the British Army. He met his Thai partner Chanisara seven years ago and that sparked their dream to open a restaurant together. Chanisara started serving her cuisine with a Thai food stall in the town’s central market and discovered that demand was high for her freshly made products. The Start Up Loan of £24,000 they secured via X-Forces Enterprise (XFE) was key to making their dream a reality.
Sign up for our newsletter
Just add your details to receive updates and news from Start Up Loans
Sign up to our newsletter