Pictured above: (l-r) Hamzah Islam, managing director of Maison Boo, with UK Trade & Investment international trade adviser Parminder Hayer

A Coventry skincare company, which was set up by a father looking for organic products for his baby daughter, is exporting to Eastern Europe and the Middle and Far East - with help from UK Trade & Investment.

Managing director Hamzah Islam launched Baby Boo, of Red Lane, in 2008 to sell chemical-free, organic shampoos, oils, lotions and body washes for babies and young children, after noticing that conventional baby products inflamed his daughter's eczema.

Now called Maison Boo, the company has grown to employ 16 people and expanded its range to include products for women, particularly expectant mothers. Its products are on sale in independent pharmacies and health stores, as well as online. 

Maison Boo is now set for further expansion after winning substantial new business in Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai, Slovenia, Latvia, Lithuania and Romania, with help from UK Trade & Investment.

Hamzah said: "The value of our export business over the next financial year is likely to exceed £200,000 - more than double our current annual turnover.

"The advice and support from UK Trade & Investment, to help us research and visit new markets, has been fantastic. 

"For example, we commissioned Overseas Market Introduction Service reports from UK Trade & Investment's commercial teams at the British Embassies in Dubai and Singapore, to enable us to assess the markets and identify the key contacts, both of which led directly to new business. 

"I recently visited Singapore to secure business worth about £70,000, supplying our products to 92 pharmacies, thanks to a free British Airways return flight through a partnership with UK Trade & Investment. 

"We have been working with our international trade adviser, Parminder Hayer, since setting up the company. 

"Parminder gave us some very useful information about doing business in Slovenia, which helped us reach an agreement with a distributor to supply 62 stores, and he is always able to help if we have any queries."

In January this year, Maison Boo joined UK Trade & Investment's Gateway to Global Growth programme, which offers a tailored, needs-based service with training and ongoing support for exporters with two to ten years' experience.

This includes an in-depth export review, assistance in formulating an international trade strategy, networking opportunities to share best practice and signposting to funding streams such as financial support for market visits.

The company had previously completed UK Trade & Investment's flagship Passport to Export scheme for new exporters.

UK Trade & Investment international trade adviser Parminder Hayer, based at Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: "The team at Maison Boo are achieving outstanding results with high quality, niche products in unusual markets.

"I'm delighted that we have been able to help and look forward to continuing to work with the company."