When Ariane moved to London from Germany, she thought finding something as simple as Lactase supplements would be simple. Feeling frustrated, she realised she wouldn’t be the only one in this position… this sparked an idea that would turn into her brand Lea Gogo. A stylish, portable lactase supplement brand now expanding across Europe. Ariane shared with us how she launched the company at just 24, navigated international manufacturing and found the right partners in Shippo to help with the logistics.
To be honest, I had never thought about the logistics of ordering products from all around the world. So when I started to hear words like import documents, customs and VAT, pallets and EORI numbers, I knew this was not something I could do alone and I needed help.
I started to look for options on the internet, but most sites were so complicated that I couldn’t even understand if this was offering the services I needed. The jargon, the bad UX and the high prices and lack of transparency really put me off and I have to admit I was very sceptical whether I would be able to get it done.
Luckily, I found Shippo during one of my night time searches and I instantly knew I was going to work with them. I reached out and the team helped me with all my queries. That was 6 years ago! We’ve done so many imports since and I never had a single issue. I went from thinking I could never do this to doing it regularly. They literally took the fear and headache out of the supply chain.
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The Spark Behind the Business
Ariane’s journey started in her teenage years when she found out she was lactose intolerant. In Germany, it is common for lactase supplements to be readily available as doctors encourage young people to continue with their usual diet, taking lactase supplements to ensure proper nutrition.
After moving to London, Ariane was shocked to find lactase wasn’t being sold anywhere. Her mum would send packages from Germany just so she could enjoy her usual diet. She explained, “That’s when it clicked… if I couldn’t find lactase, surely others couldn’t either.” This insight became the foundation for Lea Gogo.
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Finding the Right Manufacturing Partners
Ariane knew from the start that quality mattered. Germany was the best place to manufacture high-quality lactase tablets, whereas China had the best innovation for packaging. She was keen to steer clear of plastic, medical-looking packaging, which felt outdated and was harmful for the environment.
Instead, she collaborated with a manufacturer in China to develop a sleek metal tin which was stylish, portable and designed to be perfect for on the go!
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From Prototype to Full Production
Like many first-time founders, Ariane started with no experience. Both manufacturers were helpful guiding her through the process from prototypes to samples. “When I held the final sample in my hands, I knew it was time” she says.
This marked the launch of the very first batch of Lea Gogo tablets.
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Mastering Imports with Shippo
Initially, Ariane had no idea that importing meant dealing with customs, VAT, documentation and EORI numbers. Most websites were confusing and full of jargon – until she found Shippo.
The team simplified everything, handles her questions, and guided her through the entire process.
“That was six years ago and I’ve never had a single issue,” she explains “Shippo literally took the fear and headache out of the supply chain. They changed my entrepreneurial life.”
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Where Lea Gogo Is Today — and What’s Next
Ariane has since expanded the brand into more countries in Europe with plans to expand further. Just last month, she took the exciting step of quitting her job to focus on Lea Gogo full time.
“It’s amazing to think about how far we’ve come,” she reflects. “From evenings and weekends to now making this my full-time focus. I don’t know exactly what’s next but I know every future shipment will be with Shippo.”
If you’re interested in trying out Lea Gogo, please see their website.
You too can be like Ariane and start that business that you’ve been meaning to get round to but the process seems too daunting. Here at Shippo our brand is focused on making the process as simple as possible to give you more time to focus on the more important decisions like the design of your packaging!
