• Who are you?

Melanie Blane, Founder and Director of White Rabbit Skincare.

• What does your business do?

At White Rabbit Skincare we produce a range of 11 high quality, cruelty-free skincare products. Our products are 100% vegan, naturally derived and always carefully made by hand.

• Where are you based?

We have a unit in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire where we produce and store our products, but for our admin/office work we are based in the Entrepreneurial Spark hatchery in Dundonald. As a small business, we have been really lucky to work with E-Spark – as well as giving us free office space, wi-fi, printing facilities and so on, we also have access to a brilliant support network consisting of Enablers, fellow entrepreneurs, financial and legal organisations.

• How did you get started?

After being diagnosed with the skin condition psoriasis as a teenager I was keen to use natural alternatives to the often chemical laden products already available on the market – such as steroid creams. I started out using simple products such as coconut oil and shea butter, then got into experimenting with proper skincare ‘recipes.’

Interest for natural, vegan and cruelty free skincare really peaked, and I decided to turn it into a business.

Initially I was working out of my one bedroom flat, making products from our tiny galley kitchen and storing packaging anywhere I could find space, but we’ve since expanded into our unit and have also recently taken on an intern.

• What is your background

I am a history and marketing graduate from The University of Strathclyde, with a work history in mainly admin-based roles. I’m also animal daft, and have always had a keen interest in natural products, eco-friendly practices etc, therefore it was only natural (no pun intended) that I should end up developing my own cruelty free, environmentally friendly and naturally-derived products.

• What is your top tip?

Get comfortable with being uncomfortable! It can be too easy to become complacent and comfortable with where you are, but I’ve learned through having my own business to push myself constantly and step outside my comfort zone every day. As Napolean Hil said: “strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle.” Very apt for an entrepreneur.

• How long has your business been running?

Since April 2014. I had been developing products (using myself as guinea pig) long before that however.

• Has anyone helped you get started and how?

I have been so lucky to receive help and advice from a number of sources, including and most notably Entrepreneurial Spark and The Princes Trust.

Initially I secured a grant and loan from The Princes Trust in order to carry out a rebrand of our range and launch our website, and there are opportunities through E-Spark to win cash prizes – finance for a small business is very important.

Through E-Spark however you also gain access to a countless amount of help and advise sources – I would recommend it to anyone with a business/business idea. We are also currently working with our local council, Business Gateway and Scottish Enterprise, to hopefully secure more funding and help our expansion.

• What was your biggest mistake/or what would you do differently?

I’d probably say letting a lack of self confidence get the better of me initially was one of my biggest mistakes – and I think I’d missed a lot of opportunities because of it. Now I generally say yes to everything, even if previously it would have terrified me, because you never know where things might lead.

• Who was/is your mentor/or inspiration?

I don’t have a singular inspiration as such, but I am inspired every single day by people who are going out by themselves, building their own businesses, and being the change they want to see in the world – such as my fellow entrepreneurs at E-Spark.

I couldn’t possibly list them all as there are genuinely too many to mention, but the diversity and strength of entrepreneurs we have here in Scotland is astounding.

I would however like to give a special mention to my E-Spark Enabler Frank Gormanley: he has challenged me every day (there have been tears on occasion!) and had faith in my business since I joined E-Spark – and even recently roped me into dancing in the background of a Youtube video…

• Where do you plan your business to be in five years time?

The White Rabbit Skincare vision is to be “the most influential natural and vegan skincare brand in the world” – and I won’t stop till we achieve it.

I want WRS to be recognised and stocked all over the world, and to be making real social and environmental change.

• Useful contacts

o www.whiterabbitskincare.co.uk

o info@whiterabbitskincare.co.uk

o www.entrepreneurial-spark.com

o www.princes-trust.org.uk

o www.scottish-enterprise.com

o www.bgateway.com