Marketing Magic

Through various support programmes, UK Trade & Investment is helping The Wand Company to bring its real life magic wand to consumers in Japan, Hong Kong and beyond.

Chris Barnardo and Richard Blakesley are creators of the Kymera, a real magic wand which can be programmed to control a range of devices from television sets to iPod docks. In 2009, the pair set up The Wand Company to sell this and a second product, Kandela, an enchanted LED candle.

The company soon began to take a pro-active approach to its export business, and contacted UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) to find out what support was available. Having developed an export strategy with the help of Passport to Export, it went on to commission six Overseas Market Introduction Service (OMIS) reports, including for Japan and Hong Kong.

Thanks to UKTI’s support, The Wand Company has appointed local distributors in Japan and in Hong Kong, and has since sold over 10,000 units in these two markets.

“It’s very easy to lose sight of where you’re going when you start to tackle new markets, but UKTI kept us on track along the way,” says Andrew Green, International Business Development Manager at The Wand Company. “In all, we expect to reach export revenue of £1 million this year with the relationships we have made through UKTI.”

The full case study can be downloaded here

UKTI Support

Doing business in another country can be a challenge, so it’s good to know that UK Trade & Investment is there to help you succeed.

Through a range of unique services, including participation at selected trade fairs, overseas missions and providing bespoke market intelligence, UK Trade & Investment can help you crack foreign markets and quickly get to grips with regulations and business. Find out how we can help.