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MERSEYSIDE FIRM TAKES TOP NORTH WEST EXPORT AWARD

 

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An innovative Merseyside cosmetic company, which produces a range of hypoallergenic products, has been crowned with a regional export award.

Natrelle, based in Heswall, has won the North West Passport to Export Award for Merseyside 2007 in recognition of the effect of exports on its business following participation in the UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) programme.

 

Joining Passport to Export gave Natrelle - which markets Natural Tan and ProSun a hypoallergenic self-tanning product range - the confidence to develop an international business plan and focus properly on its existing export customers while tackling other new overseas markets.

As well as producing cosmetics Natrelle are UK distributors for Nicogel, a cigarette replacement gel, which they also export to Europe and Australia.

Passport to Export is UK Trade & Investment's flagship programme for new and inexperienced exporters. It provides the training, planning and ongoing support a company needs to begin a successful export operation.

Since Natrelle joined Passport in April 2005, it has increased its overall sales to £1.4M and gained a 80% increase from its international business. During that time the company has begun exporting to Australia, France, Denmark, Iceland, Singapore, the Faroes, Italy, Portugal and Estonia. It has capitalised on the recent concerns over skin cancer to market the Natural Tan range in what would otherwise be extremely difficult markets.

 

Clive Drinkwater, UKTI's North West Regional Director, says:

"Passport is an excellent and varied scheme that can be developed in a huge variety of ways and my congratulations go to Natrelle for the progress it has made with UKTI's assistance."

 

Lyn Armitage and Paul Tunstall, Directors of Natrelle, said,

"We were very grateful to UK Trade & Investment and the Passport to Export scheme for all the help and advice - especially that given by our adviser Julie Greensword. There are only two of us in the company and we work extremely hard so it is lovely to be given a pat on the back from someone else and we are delighted to win this award."

 

The Passport to Export programme combines new and existing UKTI services, according to a company's particular business needs. Participating companies receive a business health check, mentoring from one of UKTI's local export professionals, an individual export plan and a range of developmental training options before putting those skills to practical use by visiting an agreed market.

 

To qualify for its award as Merseyside's sub regional winner, Natrelle were judged to have met all the selection criteria, which included:

 

· Evidence of the impact of international trade on the overall success of the business.

· How successful the company has been in penetrating overseas markets since joining the Passport to Export programme.

· Evidence of how an international trade strategy has translated into results.

· Demonstration of the use of innovative solutions.

· A clear indication of future plans & commitment to consolidate and/or increase international sales.

 

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Notes to Editors:
UK Trade & Investment is the government organisation that provides integrated support services for UK companies engaged in overseas trade and foreign enterprises seeking to locate in the UK. It brings together the work of teams in British embassies and FCO posts overseas and government departments across Whitehall. In England, international trade support is coordinated by nine International Trade Directors working in partnership with each Regional Development Agency. UK Trade & Investment services are delivered locally through a network of International Trade Teams.

Issued on behalf of UK Trade & Investment by the Government News Network.

 

 

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