In June 2016, Ben & William set out to develop an eco-friendly alternative to chemical insect repellent.
Import Case Study: The Mosquito Company
The first hurdle was to identify a repellent that would do the job and the second was to establish a delivery method – how would their customers use the repellant?
Working with a UK-based laboratory the brothers identified a repellent formula produced in Europe using sustainably farmed eucalyptus which goes through a process that increases the concentration of the repellent by over 30 times. This creates one of the strongest natural repellents on the market.
Once the formula was in place the next phase of the development was to look at methods of getting this to work for the customer. Ben and William decided that as well as spray, patches and air refreshers, bracelets would work well…. but they’d need a manufacturer.
Sourcing & Manufacturing
The Mosquito Company wanted to develop a product that was different to any other product on the market and needed someone who could work with them to create their ideas. After taking the time to source samples from many different suppliers they decided a manufacturer in China was their best option. Chinese manufacturers offer a low cost of production and in many cases are willing to work with smaller companies.They’d found their manufacturer and produced their products, the next obstacle was to ship it back to the UK…that’s where Shippo came in.
The Importing Process
Importing goods from China can be a complex and daunting task for first timers so Ben and Will started by shipping their products by air freight and were shocked at the effect the costs had on their margins.
Looking for a solution they contacted Shippo and the team suggested sea freight due to the huge savings that can be made compared to air freight (often costs can be less than 25% of the equivalent air freight rate).
Ben:
“We had encountered issues such as being overcharged by suppliers for shipping and complications navigating Chinese customs. Basically, it’s hard to know who to trust when your new to this but after letting Shippo take control it has been a low cost super smooth process. Just one quick email with our shipment details and then we can forget about it!”
The Journey
Three years on, the part-time business has become a full-time job, both brothers have put aside their day jobs to commit all their energy to The Mosquito Company. It became clear that their venture was really gaining traction when fully loaded lorries were turning up at the family home! In 2019, The Mosquito Company was forced to stretch its legs by moving to an office.
William:
“When everywhere you try to move stock boxes are so piled to the ceiling it feels like your living inside your ultimate childhood den it’s definitely time get out”
What’s Next?
The Mosquito Company is in the beginning stages of moving into the retail market while using 100% eco-friendly materials and implementing new biodegradable plastics into the products.
Ben:
“Customers are becoming more aware of the impact there buying habits are having on the environment, especially with disposable and single use items. We are excited to make positive changes to the materials we use and offer customers an environmentally friendly options.”
If you want to find out more about The Mosquito Company and their innovative products feel free to check out their website!
Contact Shippo
We hope you enjoyed this short import case study from Shippo. If you would like to make your own business a success by importing using the cheaper option of sea freight, please contact us or grab a quote.