Mud Mate
14 November 2024
Sector: Manufacturing/ Retail
Location: Bassetlaw
Mud Mate is based in West Stockwith, Bassetlaw and was established in 2018. Owners, Nolan and Louise Freebury began their entrepreneurial journey by providing contract laser engraving and sandblasting services, as well as their own range of engraved giftware.
Over time the business has evolved following the in-house creation, design and development of Mud Mate, an innovative range of portable cleaning kits, and the Kitsack range of sports bags. There are three employees in the business.
Challenges faced
The main challenge for the husband-and-wife team was the lack of in-house marketing skills and being able to attract the customers they wanted. They were unable to compete with the vast advertising reach of their competitors. There was also a desire to improve sales from their website as costs were escalating through third-party sites.
Solution and Impact
Nolan and Louise attended the launch event for the Accelerator project last year. Accelerator is funded by Bassetlaw District Council’s share of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and delivered by East Midlands Chamber.
The project offers 1-to-1 business advice and they have been working with the Chamber’s Business Adviser, Steve Phillips over the last year. Steve has supported them in creating a new marketing strategy to attract more customers online, from trade shows and markets. Together they identified organisations and groups that could help promote the business by highlighting the benefits of their products.
This, with their product Bio Mate, has led to a collaboration with Paddle UK to help educate paddle sports users about cross-contamination and to help prevent the spread of invasive non-native species (INNS) within the UK’s waterways. In fact, with Bio Mate they recently won the ‘Excellence in Innovation Award’ at the 2024 Nottinghamshire Business Awards organised by the Chamber.
Steve also provided guidance with their application for a £4,000 Growth Grant through Bassetlaw District Council. The grant has enabled the business to purchase a branded mobile display unit that will help promote the brand at the various outdoor trade shows that the company will attend.
Finally, the team has taken advantage of the fully funded workshops from Accelerator including Marketing and Brand Development, How to Master Digital Display & Video Advertising, Getting the most out of Google Analytics and others.
Nolan said: “As a result of the support we will be more competitive and can safeguard our current tally of three full-time employees.”
“The support given has been invaluable and I would recommend any SME in the region to take part in the Accelerator programme.”
- Nolan & Louise Freebury, Directors
This initiative is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and delivered by East Midlands Chamber on behalf of Bassetlaw District Council.
