Newport-based entrepreneur Sarah Howe launched her online venture Collagen Beauty Products (www.collagenbeautyproducts.co.uk) in Shropshire and was given her first promotional stand at the StartUp Shropshire event at Telford International Centre in September. StartUp Shropshire provides advice and guidance on starting a business and is the regional arm of StartUp Britain, a nationwide initiative to encourage more people to start and grow a business.

Sarah’s brand new company already employs a team of five and is the sole UK distributor of Bidanki, a Japanese-produced, highly concentrated collagen supplement that is claimed to help reverse the effects of ageing. Promoted as a natural alternative to Botox injections, the formula helps to reduce lines and wrinkles and improves skin tone.

Sarah, the firm’s Managing Director, discovered the concept of collagen drinks whilst travelling across Asia and was overwhelmed by the product’s potential to take the UK anti-ageing market by storm.

Sarah said: “I’d had no real desire to run my own business before my trip, but I couldn’t help but see the popularity of these collagen-based drink supplements and so I researched the product and its benefits and was convinced that the market in the UK could be massive.”

From the age of around 25, people naturally start to lose collagen – a protein that acts as‘glue’ holding the body together – which leads to problems such as wrinkles, lines and saggy skin in later life. The cosmetic anti-ageing industry is worth billions of pounds and Sarah believes that her collagen-based drink supplements are by far the most effective method to reverse the ageing process, as the supplement is absorbed and works from ‘the inside out’.

“Medical advice recommends a daily collagen intake of around 6,000mg is needed to reverse the signs of ageing. Our collagen supplement contains the entire daily requirement in a single 25ml serving, and because it is in the form of a drink, it is pleasant and quick and easy to take. Tablets only include an average of around 400mg collagen, so that would be 15 tablets every day to ensure the recommended intake is met.

“Topical skin creams can only affect the local area where they are directly applied, but because our collagen drinks are absorbed into the blood stream, they benefit the entire body, and help to strengthen hair and nails, as well as joints and bones,” Sarah explained.

The company is already receiving hugely positive feedback from its customers, with reports of a marked improvement in the skin condition within weeks, and in some cases even within days, of using the supplement.

“It’s been an incredibly exciting journey so far. I’ve had to learn a huge amount, not just about the products, but more importantly, how to set up and run a business. The practical help, advice and mentoring support we’ve received from StartUp Shropshire has already proved invaluable, and we’re really looking forward to growing the company and enjoying a successful future,” Sarah added.

“Sarah and her team are exactly the kind of forward-thinking, ambitious and enthusiastic entrepreneurs we’re looking to offer a helping hand to,” Fay Easton, Founder of StartUp Shropshire commented. “The idea behind Collagen Beauty Products is truly innovative. Sarah discovered the product, conducted intensive research and is now is exclusively supplying the UK market. The company has real potential and with Sarah’s commitment and vision, the business will go far.”

For further information on the StartUp Shropshire campaign please contact Fay Easton on 07944 189436 or email fay@shropshireenterprise.co.uk.