Hexham entrepreneur lands Boots deal

Jonathan, 25, has spent the last year testing and developing the Ow! brand and producing prototypes after realising that most first-aid kits were dull and drab and included either things you didn't need or provided only a few plasters.

Undeterred by a lack of warehouse space he has been running the operation single-handedly from the comfort of his family garage, and sold 21,000 kits throughout 2008 to the local tourist industry.

OW!'s Adventurist brand kits, which went on sale at the beginning of February for around £6 each, provide everything from insect repellent wipes to those all important blister plasters, which come in a lightweight, protective and fully recyclable aluminium container.

The brand has been re-labelled as Day Tripper in Boots and now Jonathan is hoping to roll out other varieties of the kits at the stores, including ones for around the home, one targeted at children and one aimed at the sports market.

He said: "I was looking for a first-aid kit for a walk I was going on and I just noticed how drab they all were.

"Also they ranged from kits with only a few plasters to ones that would only come in useful if you had a completely severed leg.

"I noticed there was a market for something that sat somewhere in between and the idea has now begun to take off."

The entrepreneur expects to have a turnover of around £21,000 next year after securing a manufacturing deal with a company in Glasgow and is also hoping to tap into the US market through the CBS pharmacy chain.

"I'm really proud that I have been able to grow the concept to this point without any major financial backing or loans," he said.

"My family has been a great support to me and have helped me with the business in a number of ways.

"Ow! has the potential to become a strong brand and I look forward to exploring ways of growing it."