Clever Marketing by Kitchen Table Business

Shirley Jaffrey wrote me an email today, telling me her story how she started her business on a kitchen table and is now supplying the stars.

But she started her email like this:

A story on the BBC website yesterday “When did normal people fall so in love
with Tattoos” see link http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7034500.stm

There is no mention of her product in this BBC article, but she has associated herself with this article, more importantly the BBC. She got me to read her story based on this BBC link, since I’m not really into tattoos.

Here is some of what she emailed me:

“… I was a nurse of 13 years experience in all areas of nursing and a practicing aroma therapist, so using my extensive knowledge in health care and natural essential oils and emollients I created my blend, Tattoo Aftercare®, (Scots are also famous for blending skills!)

I was not working, my youngest child was a year old, my daughters were 11 and 13 and my husband was unemployed due to ill health. We had no spare money and were living on social security benefits, yet I saw the gap in the market and had a vision of seeing my product in tattoo studios around the world.

With a borrowed £400 and home PC a lot of determination and hard work and testing the blend on willing testers we began putting samples out to studios in the UK . From that we got our first few customers. We worked from home for the first two years blending hundreds and hundreds of jars of aftercare every day. We would then label and package them, with the help of my daughters, and sell them to tattoo studios. In the early days we lived off soup, (I now make great soup), so we could post out samples, turning back all money made into the company. Two years on we moved into premises but were still hand blending using a small stainless steel pot and kettle for pouring. Finally after hand blending over 70,000 jars we were able to have the product made at a manufacturer in Laurencekirk , Scotland , where it is still made toady.

We moved home from Balmedie in Scotland to Chester , England in 2003 so we could visit more customers and attend more tattoo conventions to raise awareness about my product.

Now seven years on we supply tattoo studios all over the UK and Europe, and use a number of distributors selling into Canada , Sweden , Czech Rep, and Indonesia and are in the process of securing a deal with an American distributor. To date over 400,000 people have used my product as an aftercare for their tattoo, many of them stars. www.tattooaftercare.co.uk

My company has had several magazine reviews and newspaper articles written about my success and personal achievement as a woman in business. In 2005 I was surprised to find myself as one of three finalists in the North West of England Business Awards 2005, Women in Business Category. My product recipe also won the BUAV first ever Gold Bunny Award in 2006 for not being tested on animals. My blend is made using the finest natural ingredients; It is 100% Natural contains no chemicals and is paraben preservative free and is the only aftercare in the world approved under the Humane Cosmetics Standard. ”

THIS is what I’m talking about when I talk about bootstrapping, work-life balance and all that. I love this story and I’m proud to be used for advertising, in this quint-essential bootstrapping marketing drive. Her last paragraph reads like this:

As we move our company forward and set up business links with companies across the world I believe my story can be seen as an inspiration to others who have the get up and go to begin in business and shows that hard work and determination can cross boundaries and countries.

I could not agree more, I hope Shirley is well on her way to business and private life success. A lot can be learned here and if you have similar stories, why not tell us about them? ST.

PS. Before I retire for the day with a nice glass of my favorite malt, I wonder what she means about the Scots and blending skills? Any idea anyone?

10 Responses to “Clever Marketing by Kitchen Table Business”

1. Business Marketing » Blog Archive » Clever Marketing by Kitchen Table Business
   http://business-marketing.marketing-experts.info/?p=189
   
   Said on October 14th, 2007 at 10:42 pm

   […] Stefan Töpfer wrote an interesting post today on Clever Marketing by Kitchen Table BusinessHere’s a quick excerptI love this story and I’m proud to be used for advertising, in this quint-essential bootstrapping marketing drive. Her last paragraph reads like this:. As we move our company forward and set up business links with companies across the … […]

2. kitchens
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   Said on May 13th, 2008 at 7:35 am

   That is very inspiring to read.

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   Said on July 15th, 2008 at 10:49 pm

   This is an inspiring story that I am hoping to emulate. The internet has given us the ability to start a successful business with very little income and without selling our souls to ‘the man’.

   I am part way there, and this story makes me determined to make it work.

   thanks
   Anya

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   Said on August 7th, 2008 at 6:57 pm

   Great story very inspiring not to many people would put the time and commitment into making their product succeed.

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   Said on August 10th, 2008 at 7:37 pm

   This is inspiring and motivational

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   Said on August 19th, 2008 at 11:30 pm

   Interesting story, it gives inspiration. Thanks for sharing it

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   Said on August 21st, 2008 at 2:47 pm

   I believe this story will inspire a lot of business starter like me. The two words that can I emphasize to become moral story is that hard work and determination. Thank a ton for sharing. It is indeed very useful to build eagerness and enthusism to do business and get entrepreneurship way. We need a look also on fail story from the people with happy ending. The journey not always smooth as many people imagine. There should be a obstacle and barrier before reaching the goal.

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   Said on August 22nd, 2008 at 4:41 pm

   Thats an amazing story. All started with determination and passion, and ofcourse 400 pounds and lots of help from their kids.

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   Said on August 25th, 2008 at 12:42 pm

   Interesting story, it gives inspiration. Thanks for sharing it.

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    Said on September 2nd, 2008 at 3:38 pm

    This is really inspiring. Credit also goes to her determination and fighting against all odds. Many give up.

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