E-commerce business expands into international markets with growth support

A Garstang-based Amazon e-commerce specialist has opened an Australian office and is expanding into new markets including the US and Singapore after receiving funded business growth support from Boost; Lancashire’s Business Growth Hub.

Formed at the start of 2010, Rosetta Brands began as specialists in the online sale of fun gifts from the USA to UK consumers.

Owner Nick Comer, who began the business working from a spare bedroom at home, soon found online sales from Amazon were really taking off, and relocated to offices in Nateby, Garstang to manage his growing business.

During that time Nick developed a strong working partnership with Amazon, and Rosetta Brands became an appointed Amazon vendor. He recognised there was an opportunity due to his position as a vendor to act as ‘gateway’ to other businesses to get their products sold on Amazon.

Nick contacted Boost’s business relationship management team in 2017 to seek further advice on his new business venture. He was referred to Boost’s Bespoke Programme and was introduced to Hayley Caine, a sales and marketing strategist.

Recognising Hayley’s valuable experience in sales and marketing, Nick shared his idea to develop an expanded ‘gateway’ service to Amazon for other businesses. She gave Nick the assurance that his idea was unique and viable. They then set to work to develop a sales strategy and marketing plan.

Nick said: “I look right back to the very first conversation with Hayley when I divulged our initial concept to grow our business as the ‘gateway’ between food and drink brands looking to sell to Amazon, as the real turning point for the business.

“Hayley gave me the reassurance that the idea was ‘brilliant’ and to ‘go for it’ – I then headed straight down to London to discuss it with my business partner Steve Keable and the team and get started.

“I can’t speak highly enough of Hayley, we have a lot to thank to both her and the Boost Bespoke Programme for where we are today.”

Boost is Lancashire's Business Growth Hub and is led by Lancashire County Council and the Lancashire LEP (Local Enterprise Partnership). It is supported by funding from Lancashire County Council, the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

As a funded business support service, Boost helps Lancashire business owners and leaders navigate the local, regional and national public and private sector business support landscape, to find the right support for their business. Boost also delivers a number of funded programmes for start-up, established and fast-growing businesses.

Boost Bespoke is a targeted scaleup programme for Lancashire businesses who have been trading more than three years and employing more than 10 staff. The programme helps the leaders of these businesses develop an effective leadership team, grow in new and existing markets and be more resilient to the changing economy.

The new business plan Nick and Hayley devised for Rosetta was to offer integrated solutions for consumer brands as an Amazon partner – predominantly to the food and drink sector, to get their products on Amazon, without the need to be an Amazon expert.

Rosetta Brands’ services includes the optimising of online web pages and product images and content. Participating companies sell their products to Rosetta and are then featured on the Amazon platforms identified by Amazon’s Prime badge with their produce sold and despatched by Amazon, which is key to volume sales. Rosetta Brands manages the wholesale orders, advertising and the relationship with Amazon for their customers.

Nick added: “The beauty of the service for businesses that have never tried selling online, is that you can dip your toe in and try it – without making a huge commitment or needing too much knowledge about Amazon.”

Rosetta Brands is now an Amazon agency service. The business saw rapid growth during the pandemic with the increased demand for people purchasing food and drink online.

On the success of the new service lines set up in 2017-18, Rosetta Brand’s turnover has increased from £100,000 to nearly £5m. The staff has also more than doubled to 20 people, with eight employees based in its London office.

Nick is also now seeking to strengthen his team in Lancashire with a variety of new roles and will soon be seeking larger premises in Lancashire to house the growing team.

As part of its growth plans Rosetta Brands has also expanded internationally, an office was set up in Australia in June 2021, which is already turning over $20,000 per month and it now seeks to open offices in the US and Singapore.

Stephen Allen, business advisor for Boost Bespoke at Winning Pitch, the delivery partner of Boost’s Bespoke programme said: “Nick’s growth story demonstrates how gaining further professional advice can help you launch your business into its next growth journey. Our coaches are ready to support you and it all starts by giving Boost a call.”