The founder who set up his business after breaking his back in a mountain biking accident is marking his 12th anniversary of trading with expansion plans to become a more eco-friendly operation.
John Jackson started making beard oils at his home in East Lothian and is now looking for nearby locations of about 1,000sq ft where he will hire two new members of staff to offer a refillable service alongside his online Braw Beard business. This will allow customers to send bottles back to be re-used in return for discounted products.
It follows what Mr Jackson described as a "record" year for sales of more than 150,000 products made with natural oils including Scots pine and cedar wood. While the majority of customers are based in the UK, some purchase from as far afield as the US, Canada and New Zealand.
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“Celebrating a 12-year milestone filled with such big achievements reflects the hard work and passion at Braw Beard," Mr Jackson said.
“From humble beginnings, starting out in my garden hut, to record sales this year and gaining international recognition - it really has been an incredible journey, topped also by securing a 1st in my business management degree and the birth of our second son this year.”
Formerly a graphic designer, Mr Jackson was training in 2011 for a downhill mountain biking competition in Fort William when he was thrown over his handlebars and took the impact on the top of his head, breaking the C7 and P1 vertebrae that form the transition from neck to backbone. During his rehabilitation he joined a sports massage course and from there began making hair oil.
He gave up his day job in 2018 and has since been running Braw Beard as a full-time job.
The business has previously worked with Ninja Warrior star Ali Hay and Scottish wrestler Jack Jester as "brand ambassadors", and recently gained online publicity from Jesse Leach of metal band Killswitch Engage. Mr Jackson said he is hoping to announce further partnerships and collaborations early next year.
He said he is also expanding his annual Braw Beard and Moustache Championships, which is in its 7th year and features 13 categories such as "best freestyle beard" and "best fake beard".
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The upcoming championships in February at Glasgow's Drygate Brewery will be a two-day event and is expected to attract more than 300 visitors from around the world. The event will begin with a live podcast, which Mr Jackson started during the pandemic to help men talk about their mental health, featuring Mr Jester, comedian Billy Kirkwood, Isle of Man TT racer Jamie Coward, and artist Tragic O’Hara.
Funds will be raised at the event with a raffle for Chris's House, one of several charities Mr Jackson has supported since he started the business through the donation of a percentage of product sales. Based in Wishaw, Chris’s House supports people experiencing thoughts of suicide.
Other charities supported over the years include the Beard and Moustache Clubs in Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Liverpool, Cash for Kids, Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Help For Heroes, and the Poppy Scotland Cahonas Testicular cancer charity. Overall donations have exceeded £8,000.
Braw Beard recently launched a Halloween range based around its character Boab Zombie, and is in the process of creating this year's Christmas-themed range.
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