Already running a successful beard care product company called RUNESILK, Daniel Jones came up with the idea for the BeardMail Care Box around six or seven months ago as a vehicle to promote and sell a subscription package. The box will be filled with a range of different new and popular beard care products each month, made by “small batch” companies.
Based in the St Neots area, Daniel approached the CPCA Growth Hub Start and Grow programme team to help fund the idea after hearing about the grants they offer. He attended a workshop to find out more as well as having 1:1 sessions with a Business Advisor to help him pull together his grant application.
“The process can feel lengthy, but it is definitely worth it,” stated Daniel. “The support from the Growth Hub team helped me to develop my business plan and ensure that my financial forecast and cashflow were accurate,” he continued.
He explained that he wanted the grant money to help him get the business set up and to carry out the marketing campaign activity required to promote and launch the new boxes.
Daniel has built a strong Facebook group following for BeardMail as well as a presence on Instagram and TikTok with a weekly podcast series available to stream which feature him and a friend Damo4Show. This community is built around not just beard care but retro clothing, what space smells like, the current economic situation and a whole load of other stuff.”
Daniel has always taken a fun and humorous approach to his marketing, participating in events such as the British Beard and Moustache Championship and the Oxford Beard Festival, throwing T shirts printed with their logo to the audience. Daniel’s previous experience in e-commerce has provided him with plenty of ideas on how to build his customer base and grow the profile of his business. For the launch of BeardMail, he is releasing a limited-edition box to the first 50 customers to create an element of exclusivity and generate interest.
“I’ve learnt that building a brand from scratch can be challenging, but by working with other companies including the ones who are included within the BeardMail box, it is possible to leverage the audience,” Daniel stated.
He adds that this is also a great way of receiving feedback on the products as a relationship is developed with the customers. He describes how he had to research the right price point for the box at £34.99 including delivery.
Looking forward, he would like to organise events such as The BeardMail Big Weekend for subscribers to the box to bring beard enthusiasts together. Daniel has had a beard himself for nearly twenty years and is part of a growing trend for beard care which has developed over that time.
Daniel’s advice to others starting a new business is to grab any support such as the Start and Grow programme, with both hands to make your ideas a reality. “I would really recommend it as the process was straightforward to apply for a grant and meant that you pulled together a business plan and financial forecast and cashflow which is invaluable for your planning,” Describing himself as a side hustle king, Daniel cautions people setting out on their business journey to not take it all too seriously and to remember why you are doing it – “work hard but have fun!”
For more information visit https://www.beardmail.co.uk or follow on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and YouTube. You can also view the Podcasts here
How you can get support for your business
You can get 121 support from a business advisor, who can also help you with a grant application. It is all completely free as part of the Start and Grow Programme. Click here to find out more or fill in our really simple form to register your interest and one of advisors will be in touch to see how we can help. The programme runs until the end of December (with a deadline of 11 November to submit grant applications) – so act now to make sure you get the boost your business needs.
