Health supplement business uses £25,000 Start Up Loan to fuel growth

VitaVoice are a Kidderminster-based health supplement business producing and selling a range of products designed to boost energy levels, aid mental clarity, and help with overall wellbeing.

Co-founder Scott Garrett, alongside his wife and business partner Carrie, and third co-founder Jack Pedersen, used their decades of experience to setup a business that successfully utilises their combined expertise across the medical field, e-commerce, web development, and marketing.

Their flagship product, VitaVoice Optimise, is a daily supplement formulated to support vocal wellbeing, energy, focus, and recovery during periods of heavy voice use. It aims to support a wide-range of voice-focused professionals, such as:

• Singers

• Actors

• Teachers

• Presenters

• Podcasters

• Broadcasters.

The business has proved to be popular and a surge in orders pushed Scott, Carrie, and Jack to look at funding options to meet their growth needs.

Knowledge, experience, and a desire to maintain a healthy lifestyle laid the foundations for VitaVoice

The three founders come from all walks of life. Scott started out as a professional musician 25 years ago, eventually moving into music education. His wife, Carrie, is a Clinical Voice Specialist with over a decade working for the NHS and private voice clinics. Meanwhile, Jack is an expert in strategic growth and web development.

Combined, they bring the right mix of experience and knowledge to successfully run an e-commerce-focused voice health supplement business.

While music and voicework has played a part in all their lives for many years, it was the pandemic that really inspired them to create a healthy living business.

As parents, Carrie and Scott, really started to reevaluate their lifestyles during lockdown, and became increasingly interested in preventative health and wellbeing. They saw a need to maintain their health, energy levels, and mental clarity.

As busy adults juggling multiple responsibilities, they knew exercise and a good diet wouldn’t always be the best solution. They decided to explore the benefits of nutrition and supplements.

Scott said: “I was particularly interested in the benefits I was experiencing from Lion's Mane Mushroom and other natural ingredients, and I began discussing the idea of creating a supplement specifically for performers and musicians.

“Carrie brought a different perspective. Having spent more than a decade working as a Clinical Voice Specialist within the NHS, she had seen first-hand the impact that stress, fatigue, illness, and inflammation can have on the voice.

“We realised there was a gap in the market. There were plenty of products designed to soothe the throat after a problem had developed, but very little focused on supporting vocal wellbeing proactively.”

What followed was two years of research, consultations with nutritionists, liaising with manufacturers, and meeting with health professionals before finally a formula for VitaVoice was developed.

A £25,000 Start Up Loan enabled VitaVoice to support their next stage of business growth

In Scott’s words: “Like many entrepreneurs, one of the biggest challenges has been balancing growth opportunities with cash flow.

“We have proven demand for the product and a growing customer base, but scaling a consumer brand requires significant upfront investment in stock, marketing, and infrastructure.

"The Start Up Loan provided the working capital needed to invest at the right time rather than delaying growth opportunities. It allowed us to move faster, increase our reach, and continue building a sustainable long-term business.”

The funding is being used to support the next stage of growth for VitaVoice including:

• Increasing existing stock levels

• Scaling up their marketing activity, particularly through Meta and TikTok

• Targeting new customers

• Strengthening the operational foundations of their business.

  
  

As demand for their product continues to grow, the funding will give them the ability to invest with confidence and build momentum at a critical stage in the company's development.

What started as an idea around a kitchen table has since grown into an international brand. Today, VitaVoice is trusted by a growing community of singers, teachers, performers, and professional voice users.

Working with First Enterprise gave VitaVoice a strong support system throughout their funding journey

Scott discussed his experience seeking funding and working with First Enterprise, saying: “I first became aware of the Start Up Loan programme after completing a Funding Readiness Accelerator programme called Funding Hero, where guest speaker Warren Ralls came in from the British Business Bank to talk with our cohort. I learned more about the support available, and was very impressed by what was on offer.

“After exploring different funding options, I felt a Start Up Loan was the right fit because it would allow us to invest in growth without giving away equity in the business at an early stage.

“First Enterprise stood out because of their supportive approach and genuine interest in understanding both the business and my ambitions as a founder. My experience with First Enterprise was extremely positive throughout the entire process.

“Starting and growing a business can often feel like a long and lonely journey, so having people who genuinely want to help you makes a huge difference in your mindset.

“The application process was straightforward, professional and supportive from start to finish. My Business Adviser James Minnott, took the time to understand both the business and my future ambitions, providing guidance and encouragement throughout. I would happily recommend First Enterprise to other entrepreneurs looking to start or scale their businesses.”

James reciprocated Scott’s kind words, saying: “Working with Scott and VitaVoice was a great experience. They were incredibly transparent, communicative, and focused. They had an excellent business and really sold its story and benefits. Supporting them was straightforward and I wish them all the best with their growth plans going forward.”

Do you see a gap in the market? Do you have an idea that could help people? Why not explore how a Start Up Loan could help?

Start Up Loans is a UK government-backed scheme by the British Business Bank, providing affordable funding to new businesses. It’s a great way to access the finance necessary to get your business started or to grow one in its early years of trading.

If you’d like to explore how a Start Up Loan could help you, get in touch with one of our advisors by completing the enquiry form below or by calling 0345 602 7355.

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All it takes is finding the voice to sell your story and the confidence to pursue your dream — perhaps a dose of VitaVoice can help with that.