A Herefordshire company is racing ahead in European markets with
a new product for horse owners, with help from UK Trade &
Investment.
Equine Speedskip, of Ross-on-Wye, is the producer of an
innovative skipping out tool which allows horse owners to perform
the mucking out process more quickly and effectively, whilst
reducing the potential for wrist, elbow and back strain.
Within nine months of the product being launched in February
2008, more than 150 retailers were stocking and selling the Equine
Speedskip, with the product being voted the Number One yard and
stable product on a leading UK national equine website (Your
Horse), as well as an endorsement of the product from an
internationally renowned equine college (Hartpury Equine College,
Gloucestershire).
The company has won its first export orders from Germany,
Finland, Hungary and the Netherlands as a result of exhibiting at
Equitana 2009 in Essen, Germany - the world's largest trade fair
for the equine sector - with financial support from UK Trade &
Investment.
Further interest in the product has also been received from
Belgium, France, South Africa and the Republic of Ireland.
Partner Elaine Pickering said: "The results from Equitana have
been fantastic - we're particularly pleased with the response from
the German community.
"The event was a great international launching pad for our
products and we were also selected by an independent panel of
judges as one of the nominees for the Equitana Innovation
Award."
"The event was a great international launching pad for our
products and we were also selected by an independent panel of
judges as one of the nominees for the Equitana Innovation Award,
added Elaine."
Equine Speedskip was set up in February 2008 by Elaine and her
business partner Gareth Hulbert.
In October, the company joined UK Trade & Investment's
flagship Passport programme, which gives new exporters the
training, planning and ongoing support they need to succeed
overseas.
Gareth added: "The funding and practical support we are
receiving from Passport through our international trade adviser
Linda Smith is invaluable and I would recommend it to anyone who is
considering exporting. Linda has helped us set an action plan and
advised us on potential pitfalls."
UK Trade & Investment international trade manager Linda
Smith, based at Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of
Commerce, said: "It's a pleasure to work with a company as
innovative as Equine Speedskip and I look forward to continuing to
assist them in developing their export business further."
For more information about how UK Trade & Investment can
help your business expand into new markets abroad, contact the
international trade team at Herefordshire and Worcestershire
Chamber of Commerce on Tel: 0845 641 1515.