It’s not often you get to genuinely mix business with pleasure, so when the opportunity to invest in VeloSkin came to the table, we couldn’t say no.
VeloSkin was founded by passionate cyclist Chris Bairstow and is best-known for its chamois cream, which has gained a cult following among professional and amateur cyclists alike.
As a big fan of the brand Andrew Banks of Venture Forge and Chris Iredale, of Thriven, have joined the business as shareholders and Directors to drive ongoing ecommerce and international growth of VeloSkin while increasing retail and distribution partners across the UK, Europe and the US.
VeloSkin was launched two years ago when Chris couldn’t find a good quality chamois cream for himself. He painstakingly created 46 variations, before settling on the version that VeloSkin sells today and one he describes as the ‘best chamois cream on the market’.
Since launching in 2016, the brand has added four (?) further premium skincare products to its range, including recovery gel and moisturiser, which are sold online and through a number of independent retailers.
Andrew said “Chris and I were very impressed by the overall offering from VeloSkin and its potential to be one of the big players in its field. The products have been created by cyclists, for cyclists and we will be focussing on growing the customer base online and internationally and are actively looking for retail and distribution partners in our key markets, from the UK to the US.”
Chris Iredale coaches and mentors owner managed businesses and their leadership teams to develop skills, processes and strategies for scaling up and sustainable growth. He set up his company, Thriven, in 2016.
He said: “Part of the reason we have all come together on this project is through our mutual love of cycling. VeloSkin offers a range of premium skincare products for cyclists and through the expertise we have on our team I am confident that we will grow the business significantly.”
Chris Bairstow, Founder, added:
I’m a keen cyclist, so from gravel rash, to shave burn to being unable to sit down, I’ve gone through it all! But I could never find an entire specialist skincare product that worked well for me. So, instead of waiting for someone else to do it, I decided to design and manufacture a range of specialist skincare for cyclists – the kind of products I would want to wear myself.I established VeloSkin with my wife, Tanya, and it is was our first venture into creating a new brand product line. We’re delighted to have Andrew and Chris on board. With Andrew’s considerable ecommerce experience and Chris’s background in business growth, I know we have the right team to drive VeloSkin forward.
VeloSkin’s range of products can be found at https://veloskin.cc
