Newcastle entrepreneurs launch waterproof business
by WIN Admin — published in Press Releases
TWO friends are making Britain's bad weather pay for them by providing colourful waterproofs for fashion-conscious women.
Rainfrog is the brainchild of Newcastle-based entrepreneurs Karen Thorne and Heather Goodhand, who spotted a niche in the market to import brightly-coloured rainwear from Europe and Japan to sell online.
Ms Thorne said: “The idea for Rainfrog came from how miserable our weather can be, coupled with the fact that there is a limited women’s fashion market in the UK for funky rainwear.
“Through shopping online I discovered that in countries such as Holland and France there is a large dedicated market for stylish waterproofs.
“It seemed strange to me that there wasn’t similar choice in the female fashion market here, given the amount of rainfall the UK receives, and it appeared there was a definite window of opportunity for Rainfrog.”
The company started trading in February and is planning to expand its range on the back of demand. Most orders have come from the UK, but Rainfrog has also dispatched orders to Norway, Sweden, Russia and Ireland. Ms Thorne said: “We spent a lot of time analysing weather patterns in the UK compared with the established markets overseas like Holland.
"This might sound a bit geeky but it was important we got all our planning right in order to get a clear idea of the potential demand for our products.
“All the research seems to point to the fact that our weather is only going to get wetter, so why not make the best of the rain and use it as a chance to brighten up your wardrobe even if the sky overhead is gloomy.”
Ms Goodhand added: “Both Karen and I had previously worked for employers where we had become constrained in our roles and wanted more freedom and control over our careers and lives generally.
“Although setting up a company in a difficult economic climate did seem daunting at first, it really was a case of ‘now or never’ and was definitely the right decision.”
The pair launched their enterprise after receiving support from Business Link and attended a series of free start-up events, covering issues such as tax and marketing.
Business Link also pointed them in the right direction to apply for funding to develop Rainfrog’s website.
Source: The Journal, Karen Dent