Cosmetic dentistry start-up all smiles over sales. Check it out:
(Western Mail Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) A south wales company is on course to achieve pounds 4m turnover within a year, thanks to its innovative technology that gives clients a Hollywood-like winning smile.
Marc Eckley from Cwmbran and Ieuan Nicholas from Carmarthen teamed up earlier this year to create their Smile Spa teeth-whitening system, which they say is both safer and less expensive than conventional methods.
So successful have they been since the launch that this week they formally opened a new headquarters in Cardiff.
From here they will continue to expand the enterprise, which has already generated income of nearly pounds 500,000 and is on target to reach pounds 4m turnover within the next 12 months. In addition to soaring UK sales, orders have also been secured from the USA, Italy and Australia.
The total UK market for cosmetic dentistry is now believed to be around pounds 283m a year and is recording average annual growth of 25%.
Mr Eckley and Mr Nicholas have developed a pioneering system which uses chlorine dioxide gel rather than traditional hydrogen peroxide-based products.
This is applied to the customer's teeth using hi-tech equipment designed by the business partners and manufactured in Bridgend.
The business now employs 12 people directly and has a network of more than 40 spa clinics across the UK that are licensed to deliver the Smile Spa treatment.
These include many beauty and hair salons as well as self-employed individuals who can provide the 40-minute treatment after a short period of training.
The Smile Spa system is designed to provide a non-invasive cosmetic procedure that can be administered safely outside the traditional dentist's surgery. A one-off treatment can last for up to two years. The procedure takes around 40 minutes and costs in the region of pounds 200.
Mr Eckley, managing director of Smile Spa, said, 'We've created a procedure that is safer and cheaper yet equally effective, by delivering it in a completely different way.
'The portability and ease of use of our system means that it can complement other spa/salon treatments very easily and cost effectively as it requires very little additional space or training to be able to use the system within an existing business.
'A decade ago, cosmetic dentistry was the preserve of the rich and famous, but today everyone hankers after the Hollywood smile and Smile Spa makes it affordable for them.
'There's been a definite boom in ordinary people seeking cost- effective and long-lasting ways to make themselves feel more attractive and confident.
'Teeth whitening is actually one of the less drastic cosmetic enhancements you can have, which is probably why it's proving so popular. Our technology and delivery method means that people can literally walk into their nearest salon and come away within an hour with a much brighter smile. Our systems really are as simple as that.'
Traditional teeth-whitening procedures have tended to be administered by staff with dental training whereas the Smile Spa treatment can be applied safely by non-specialist personnel. The patented whitening gel based on chlorine dioxide is teamed with LED (light-emitting diode) matrix equipment. The company says this provides one the safest, least invasive teeth-whitening treatments on the market to date, which can be carried out by non-medical technicians.
The company's growth strategy is to focus on developing the network of clinics worldwide.
Mr Eckley said, 'We will continue to target the spa and salon markets in the UK, as well as looking for opportunities to build our network abroad. Our complete end-to-end package has already demonstrated that it has worldwide appeal with many orders coming in from Europe and the US.'
Smile Spa has been exhibiting its technology at exhibitions all over the UK and has more than 50 clinics waiting for their systems.
Copyright 2006 . Western Mail & Echo Ltd
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