An aspiring entrepreneur inspired by the trend for beards has launched a scheme to raise £2,500 through crowdfunding.
Aberdonian Ryan Alexander is attempting to raise the money on the Kickstarter website in order to fund a range of handmade and distinctive men’s grooming products, including beard oils, soaps and moustache wax.
The former chef, who turned his love of cooking into a different sort of business, has one week left to raise the cash. The rules of crowdfunding mean he has to raise the full amount in the time allotted to the campaign.
Mr Alexander, currently a student at Robert Gordon University, decided to launch the products under the Westburn & Granite brand when he quit his job in the kitchen to go back to school.
He said: “The boom in beards plus the constant flow of new grooming products, many of which I have tried and not liked, gave me the inspiration I needed to start Westburn & Granite. I make all the products myself from natural ingredients and because of this my collections are small batch and include Adzuki Bean & Tea Tree soap and Grapefruit & Black pepper beard oil which are extremely popular.”
With two local stockists – Concept Clothing and The Men’s Emporium – now carrying his products, Mr Alexander is looking to create an online community on his website that connects likeminded people – including a new celebrity follower.
He said: “Leading Scottish model, Chris John Millington, recently got in touch after seeing Westburn & Granite products on Instagram. He’s really keen to help out in any way he can so I have sent him product to initially try. I’ve also connected with Four Kicks Streetwear, a fashion label based in the Lothians, Ade Adesina, an Aberdeen artist, and John Hunt JR, a Scottish photographer. By connecting with artists, designers, and other makers I hope to create a forum where people can showcase their work and inspire each other.”
He has also reached out for support to help grow his venture from government support scheme, Business Gateway.
Gillian Burley, Business Gateway said: “Having realised that a career as a chef wasn’t for him Ryan started a college course before entering university. As well as studying and working part time in a supermarket he spotted a gap in the market to produce high end, limited edition products using his knowledge of ingredients. He turned to us last year looking of advice on how to run and grow his cottage industry in a manageable way.”