Dubai-based start-up The Camel Soap Factory has made inroads to international markets such as Germany and India, and has announced plans to enhance its global presence next year.

Earlier in April, Stevi Lowmass, CEO, The Camel Soap Factory, reported that the company moved into its own manufacturing facility, having received additional funding from investors.

“In the year since we have been licensed, we have established a solid customer base. We are expanding our sales into new markets beyond the retail gift market. From our roots as a kitchen business, we have grown rapidly to establish the first factory for handmade camel milk soap products in the UAE,” she added.

With her own industrial base, Lowmass is confident she can increase manufacturing volume to meet the growing demand in the UAE, and explore new markets abroad.

As a result of The Camel Soap Factory’s impressive performance in 2014, the UAE’s first and only manufacturer of soaps made from 25 per cent camel milk and olive oil has been selected as a finalist in the RSA Start-up Business of the Year Category of the Gulf Capital SME Awards, said Lowmass.

“Finding a niche is a key ingredient to succeeding in business and The Camel Soap Factory is a great example of this endeavour,” said David Harris, sales & marketing director for RSA Insurance, a multinational quoted insurance group.

“We admire the company’s commitment to its unique proposition, and for creatively identifying and developing a product line that is well-placed for future growth. At RSA, we are proud to work with these innovative entrepreneurs and to ensure that they remain protected to pursue their ambitions.”

“The challenge of growing has been managing cash flow, particularly as growth means ordering in larger and larger quantities of raw materials,” Lowmass added.

Lowmass’ plans for the future include developing a more luxurious product for large department stores, creating a range of bath and beauty products based on the start-up’s key local ingredient, camel milk.

“Additionally we are extending our sales into the corporate gift market, hotels and other retail outlets as well as actively seeking new overseas distributors. Long term we hope to make our factory a fixture on the ‘must see in Dubai’ list for visitors and residents alike. We have started running limited tour groups at our new facility with great success,” she concluded. – TradeArabia News Service