In early 2011 Khulani and Patience were finding it difficult to make progress with their dream of starting a Social Enterprise to create the profit from selling bottled water that would then be used 50/50 to, support play projects in Africa, and young people’s projects in the North East.
They had found a source of water and a bottling company but needed to produce a robust strategy that addressed the big issues of how to market the product, who were their target customers, why would these customers buy Manzi Blue water rather than any other and how would they store and distribute the product. They also needed some funding to buy their first batch of stock.
Working with Chris Butler, Five Lamps’ Senior Business Development Officer they took advantage of a range of free training workshops and one to one sessions in order to produce a robust business plan that tested each of the above questions in a constructive but challenging way. Chris advised them to think of him as a Dragons Den member – but a bit friendlier!
They were both eligible for the Job Centre’s New Enterprise Allowance (NEA) scheme, which meant that they could apply for a business loan to help towards their start-up costs.
After around six months of hard work, visiting potential customers such as Teesside University, Stockton Riverside College, Sunderland University and others, and receiving very positive feedback, they had the confidence to order their first batch of 10,000 bottles of Manzi Blue water.
Once the order was placed, they continued working with Chris on a plan to launch the product into the Students Union shops at Teesside University and local retail outlets.
When Chris met them recently in the shop at Teesside University it was great to see the product on display and selling steadily to the students and staff. The shop manager told Chris that the product was well priced and student liked the ethical vision for the use of the profits – that was there unique selling proposition and that was what needed strongly marketing.
Taking the manager’s advice they are now working with Chris to strengthen their marketing strategy, with the aim of making Manzi Blue the water of choice for students across the North East.
Khulani and Patience said
“Five Lamps have been instrumental in helping us start.. The combination of free workshops, training and one to one support has been ideal for us. Without the New Enterprise Loan we would have struggled to buy our first batch of stock. We have felt throughout that Chris and the team really believed in us and the potential for this exciting adventure. They are continuing to work with us as the business grows and that is a great resource to have behind us“
Lori Wheatman, President of Teesside University Students’ Union said
“We’re committed as an organisation to doing as much as we possibly can to have an impact on the wider society, and even world, so we have been delighted to work with Manzi Blue over the past year. We admire their commitment to making a difference to people’s lives and their product is already popular with students so it’s a real win win situation!”
Khulani and Patience are keen to point out that people in the local and regional community can support the cause by purchasing the Manzi Blue water as the profits are also going to the local communities and independent stores and local organisations can help by stocking the product.
Contact Manzi Blue at kullany@manziblue.org.uk, www.manziblue.org.uk or (01642) 602664.
Five Lamps run Communities Fund on behalf of Stockton Council to support people who are unemployed. The Enterprise Gateway is delivered by Five Lamps on behalf of Stockton Borough Council.
The Enterprise Gateway project is part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), managed by the Department for Communities and Local Government, securing £380,643 ERDF investment. The ERDF Competitiveness Programme 2007-2013 is bringing over £300m into the North East to support innovation, enterprise and business support across the region.
The New Enterprise Allowance (NEA) Scheme is funded by The Department for Work and Pensions