Award winning Brighton men’s grooming business shortlisted for national award
Marc Belle, founder of Brighton-based men’s grooming brand, Mr Blackman’s, has been shortlisted from a long list of nominations for Best Fashion & Beauty category in the South East Regional Finals of the Great British Entrepreneur Awards. Its success represents almost four years of hard work for the brand handcrafting, small-batch men’s grooming products for men with curly hair.
Established in September 2016, Mr Blackman’s set out to simplify men’s grooming and provide male grooming products for black and mixed-race men where choice is often limited. Born in Barbados and based in Brighton the brand makes small-batch beard and skincare products made of natural ingredients inspired by its Caribbean home, Barbados.
Handcrafting, multi-purpose products Mr Blackman’s range includes Beard & Shave Oil, Beard & Aftershave Balm and a Cleansing Brick: Shampoo and Shave Bar. It has also collaborated with fellow Bajan brand, Mount Gay Rum, on an exclusive range of beard and shave care.
The brand is also active in promoting positive men’s mental health.
Founded in 2013, the Great British Entrepreneur Awards acknowledges the hard work and inspiring stories of entrepreneurs and businesses in the United Kingdom.
The Awards have celebrated some outstanding entrepreneurs who have gone on to become household names. Previous winners include the founders of BrewDog, Tangle Teezer, The LAD Bible, Clearscore & The Cambridge Satchel Company.
Judges of the awards include Hayley Parsons, who founded Go Compare, Cath Kidston, Lord Bilimoria of Cobra Beer and Kanya King, the founder of the MOBO awards.
This year, with face to face events challenging, the regional heats will be celebrated online on September 23rd.
Founder of the Great British Entrepreneur Awards, Francesca James, said:
“Given what we’ve seen over the past few months, the 2020 edition of the Great British Entrepreneur Awards is arguably the most important. Now, more than ever, it’s vital that we celebrate the achievements of the country’s entrepreneurs and their determination in the face of such adversity.
“So many entrepreneurs will have been fighting to keep their business afloat over the past few months, and indeed will be over the coming months. That’s exactly why we launched the Pivot category; to recognise those that have managed to adapt and thrive throughout this period.
“I want to send my congratulations to each and every single entrepreneur who has made it to the shortlist this year, and I wish them the very best of luck for the regional finals.”
Anne Boden, founder and CEO of Starling Bank, said:
“These entrepreneurs have gone above and beyond in order to allow their businesses to flourish in extremely difficult times and it is a true honour to congratulate each and every one of them.”
Marc Belle (Creative Director and Founder) said:
“I don’t know if I’d be able to put into words what winning would mean. Apart from more people seeing us and hopefully us being able to grow, it’d validate not just the brand but everything we have been trying to do.
“We started this because it was as if black and mixed-race men, men with curly hair, had been forgotten when it came to beard care and we wanted to change that. We wanted those men to be like “Hey someone is routing for us”. For us it doesn’t matter who you are, how many followers you have, whether you wear a suit or sportswear, we’ve got your back.
“Winning would mean that people are seeing that and hopefully change will come.
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