All that glitters really is gold for EcoStardust as sales rise by 16%.

Business is booming for the firm selling biodegradable glitter made from plants.

Founder Kath Senior, 36, said sales have shot up as customers began partying again at home and festivals after Covid and the brand is in profit.

Its ‘Glitter Without the Litter’ catchphrase has struck a chord with consumers who have made sustainability a priority.

Senior talks about sustainability and her business success on Brightpearl’s Lightning 50 podcast.

She said: “We are growing really quickly in the UK and around the world and particularly in America.

“Obviously Covid and lockdowns weren’t good for a business based on partying and festivals which all shut down for almost three years.

“We picked up some business during Covid from the crafting boom with people making products at home such as bath bombs, but it was a tough time.

“But thankfully we are all partying again and making up for lost time after a really tough few years and this is reflected in our sales. It’s great to be in profit.”

EcoStardust is expanding globally and has recently started shipping to America because consumers were struggling there to source truly biodegradable glitter.

Senior explained: “There are a lot of glitter products that claim to be biodegradable but aren’t really.

“They need a temperature of 70-degrees to decompose which isn’t going to work in most customers’ compost heaps.

“We have benefited from customers seeing through the greenwashing claims of many of the brands entering the market.”

Senior was working in ecommerce when she started the business in 2017.

She said “I am passionate about the environment but also love festivals, glitter and dressing up and grew up going to Glastonbury Festival.

“I got the idea for EcoStardust when I was planning the celebrations for my 30th birthday. A friend and I were having a Hollywood glitter and glamour themed party and I was ordering in party supplies which included kilo bags of glitter.

“However, when it arrived with a large ingredients label saying polyester – it was then that I realised it was plastic and by using it I was littering. It took the shine out of it for me so I went on a search for an alternative and that is when EcoStardust #GlitterWithoutTheLitter came about.”

A big challenge for Senior has been making her packaging as eco-friendly as the glitter inside.

She said: “I didn’t want to package our environmentally friendly glitter in a plastic jar or any packaging we didn’t feel was sustainable.

“Luckily we discovered aluminium packaging and switched to tins which are perfect for us. They are lightweight, infinitely recyclable and highly likely to be recycled because of its value. Our shallow design means they fit through letterboxes so most of our orders can be sent as a large letter and  there is no need for someone to be at home for it to be received.”

EcoStardust has some big retailer partners in Pretty Little Thing, Accessorize and ASOS which was the first to come on board after spotting Senior and her glitter at a festival. 

She said: “They saw the potential of the product and got in touch asking me to go to London to have a chat with them. I was blown away. I was so nervous but at the same time excited as I could see the potential of what it would mean for my business if it went well.”

She runs a ‘glitter amnesty’ allowing customers to trade in their non-biodegradable glitter to the company in return for a 15% discount. 

EcoStardust has seven staff and is based at Langport in Somerset near to where she lives with her young family.

Senior has grown the business while bringing up her two children – Ted who is aged three and baby Lily who is seven months old – and she is currently on maternity leave while the team drives sales in her absence. Ted attended his first trade show when he was just five weeks old.

Senior gets lots of support from her husband Lawrence McEwan, who works as a mechanical engineer.

She has not increased prices during the cost of living crisis but says the focus is very much on driving profits due to the squeeze on spending.

The brand is expecting to make a profit in five figures for 2023, though Senior would rather not specify a figure.

She said her top tip for sales growth was keeping a close eye on sales data from Google Analytics. This had highlighted the need to expand into America.

EcoStardust is on a mission to raise awareness of environmental issues and it gives 10% of net profits to environmental charities and bodies.* Kath Senior talks about sustainability and her business success on Brightpearl’s Lightning 50 podcast.

In an era defined by digital transformation reshaping industries, B2B sales are undergoing a profound evolution. Enter Forward, an innovative solution poised to reinvent the B2B sales experience for the digital age.

After a successful year-long beta phase as Simpliciter, the FORWARD Digital Sales Room is now unveiled. Its goal is to simplify, engage, and enhance the efficiency of B2B sales for both buyers and sellers.

In a digital sales landscape where, according to a recent global survey by Gartner, 77% of B2B buyers describe their most recent purchase experience as complicated or challenging, a clear need for a solution emerges. Complex buying processes and information overload often lead to extended sales cycles and stalled deals. Forward seeks to eliminate these obstacles, ensuring that B2B sales journeys are seamless, maintain momentum, and culminate in successful deals.

The new banner “Forward” and its guiding principle “Drive your deal forward, effortlessly” encapsulate the essence of seamless progress that modern sales teams demand.

Forward’s platform replaces email clutter with dedicated digital sales rooms, consolidating sales resources, tools, interactions, and deal processes into a unified workspace. This solution fosters seamless collaboration and expedites buying decisions. Each digital salesroom, accessible via a single link, facilitates real-time interactions, provides invaluable sales insights, suggests mutual-action plans, and offers automated personalisation.

Boris Rino, co-founder of Forward, expresses his excitement: “Our transition from Simpliciter to Forward underscores our dedication to helping sales teams create smoother and more engaging experiences that effortlessly maintain prospect engagement and advance the deal!”

“95% of B2B sales processes still rely on emails and attachments. This isn’t just time- and resource-draining; it’s a major cause of lost sales,” says Altug Beser, a serial entrepreneur, and co-founder of Forward, with two successful exits under his belt in the vertical of digitalisation of B2B sales processes. “Both the buyer and seller side are in dire need of a streamlined experience. During our beta phase as Simpliciter, we witnessed a 30% shortening of sales cycles and a 23% drop in email back-and-forth. I believe any forward-thinking business should experience the advantages of a digital sales room firsthand.”

In a rapidly changing landscape, forecasts indicate that by 2026, a remarkable 30% of B2B sales cycles will transition to the efficiency of digital sales rooms. For enterprises and SMBs still reliant on conventional engagement methods and subpar buyer experiences, the need for transformation is undeniable.

Seizing this transformative moment, FORWARD extends an invitation to experience its digital sales room solution for free at www.dealforward.com. This opportunity empowers users to witness firsthand how FORWARD streamlines processes, effortlessly propelling deals forward and delivering that “wow” factor that accelerates deal closures.

Leading UK industrial flooring supplier, Warehouse Flooring, is advocating for construction firms to make informed decisions when selecting flooring for new industrial buildings. The choice of flooring material plays a pivotal role in ensuring the efficiency and safety of daily operations within warehouses, especially considering the heavy loads, foot traffic, and machinery these facilities typically endure.

Elliot Preston, a representative from Warehouse Flooring, emphasised the importance of flooring selection, stating, “Selecting the right type of warehouse flooring is not just about aesthetics; it’s about durability, safety, and efficiency. 

He continued, “Additionally, this decision represents a significant investment that directly impacts operational efficiency and maintenance costs.”

“Warehouse floors are subjected to intense wear and tear, making the choice of flooring material critical. The flooring needs to withstand the constant movement of forklifts, pallet jacks, and heavy machinery, all while providing a safe surface for workers to navigate. 

It’s also a significant investment that directly impacts the operational efficiency and maintenance costs of the facility.”

He concluded, “Understanding your warehouse’s unique requirements and investing in high-quality flooring can result in a durable and efficient workspace that contributes to the overall success of your operations. Remember, making the right flooring choice today can lead to significant time and cost savings in the long term.”

Warehouse Flooring has extensive experience supporting construction firms with their flooring needs, offering expert guidance on selecting the most suitable flooring for specific applications.

Preston stated, “Our team possesses unparalleled expertise and provides tailored solutions because we recognise that each warehouse has unique demands. We deliver efficient installations, quality assurance to surpass industry standards, competitive pricing, and boast a long list of satisfied clients.”

For more information on Warehouse Flooring and their offerings, please visit warehouse-flooring.uk.