NEVER FLY SOLO
NEVER FLY SOLO
Dragons’ Den star Theo Paphitis will present a new 7 x 60” series produced by Maverick Television for BBC Two. Britain’s Next Big Thing goes behind closed doors at some of the biggest names in UK retail to expose the secret world of buying for the first time. In a twist, these buyers won’t be turning to their trusted suppliers for the next big thing. Instead they’ll be gambling on the talents of the British public in their quest to find the best and most innovative new products. For the fledgling designer, this is a chance in a lifetime.
The series will follow WINGMAN and it’s creator Stuart Jolley along this process as they go from humble beginnings on to the shelves of Boots. The series airs April 12th, BBC2 8pm.
Maverick Televison: Britian’s Next Big Thing
Boots
BBC Televison
The last few months have been a whirlwind for Stuart Jolley as Wingman has exploded onto the scene.
From securing an exclusive contract with Boots, to having BBC cameras follow his every move for an upcoming Theo Paphitis fronted series, Wingman has come a long way since Stu’s original idea for a male deodorising wipe as a student. Stu graduated with a degree in Journalism, Film & Media in 2009, and after working hard, partying hard and going to music festivals, he believed his Wingman concept could really fly!
There was no real plan of attack, other than to just go for it! I wasn’t risking a mortgage and I didn’t have any family commitments, so I spent every single hour of my day developing new product ideas for the brand. I asked myself “how can I make Wingman the most exciting grooming brand out there?”
My research showed that male grooming products can no longer expect to just sit on bathroom shelves. Products also need to cater for busy ‘on the go’ lifestyles spent away from home.
Wingman is different to normal multi-pack wipes, being individually foil wrapped makes them much easier to carry in your pocket, wallet or briefcase.
Away from the Flightdeck, I like to keep fit and run daily listening to Rage Against the Machine. Rage is the ultimate Wingman for when I run!
2011 is a big year for Wingman. I have recently finished The BBC 2 series, ‘Britain’s Next Big Thing’ presented by Dragon’s Den star Theo Paphitis. The programme was a once in a lifetime opportunity to pitch in front of some of the most influential buying teams in the country. I have set up distributors outside of the UK and am now working on some very exciting new products which I will reveal later this year. Never Fly Solo!
The idea for my first product was born whilst I was camping with friends in France. With no showers to use at the campsite we became frustrated at having to use ‘girly’ baby wipes to keep ourselves clean and started discussing alternatives between us.
Shortly after this trip I realised there was a gap in the market for something like a male deodorising wipe, when on a night out clubbing with university friends, I noticed men wiping their armpits with paper towels to try to mask their body odour.
I began to research and develop the product, working with specialists to create a wipe containing a series of attractive but masculine smelling ingredients, including ginseng, menthol and aloe vera, and Farnesol, a natural deodorising agent. I settled on the brand name Wingman – because it’s always by your side.
I did some market research by testing my wipes in nightclubs and on tubes. The feedback I received was very positive. I also managed to send 2500 samples out to British troops abroad.
I took my wipes around the music festival scene where I endured three days of sitting outside the shower line, getting people to test my wipes and buy them; I invented my own position as ‘Festival Hygiene Promoter’ so that people at the festival felt confident in talking to me.
My next step was attracting the big retailers and that’s when the BBC competition came about. Wingman was chosen from thousands to pitch in front of Boots who remain the largest health and beauty retailer in Britain. Thankfully the pitch went really well and Boots wanted my Wingman product stocked exclusively in stores around the country.
Wingman’s flight course is now set and the company plans to release more cool products later in the year so that men worldwide, Never Fly Solo.
