While launching a new brand in the middle of a pandemic might not sound like the best idea, the CBD market is among the few industries still showing upward growth as consumer behaviour has shifted online and more people have turned to CBD to help cope with stress and anxiety. Here we catch up with two new brands looking to take advantage of CBD’s ever-growing opportunity…
NUSPORT CBD
NUSPORT CBD is launching in London with the aim of providing trusted, high-quality fitness CBD oils as part of a wider range of CBD products designed to help you with all your health goals.
Reliably sourced from two of the finest hemp biomass producers in Colorado, NUSPORT CBD’s two core ranges, Black Edition Broad-Spectrum CBD Oil and the lighter Pure Edition Rich Isolate CBD Oil, are manufactured to be fit for powerful purposes.
Each product is also organic, vegan, gluten-free and lab-tested to confirm the quality and purity, with a COA (certificate of analysis) provided with each batch.
Founder Richard Blunt shares his personal journey from pain relief to CBD entrepreneur…
How did NUSPORT CBD come about?
Richard says: “I suffered an injury back in 2013, aged 43, and was in a world of pain. I was moving some heavy goods around a warehouse that aggravated arthritis I never knew I had and I started taking huge amounts of painkillers to get through the day. They became ineffective and I was still in chronic pain. Just a couple of years ago now, I tried CBD for the first time.”
How did you first discover CBD?
“It was recommended to me by a friend and having already kicked painkillers out, I was ready to try something alternative.
“Early 2019, I had an ‘aha’ moment. It was Sunday morning, I had just taken my morning dose – and boom, I realised this is it… this is my future.
“I created NUBIOTICS Group and NUSPORT CBD is the first brand to come to market. The product range will concentrate on sports and fitness and the more active lifestyle, offering natural relief and supporting a productive workout; aiding recovery; assisting with sleep; managing anxiety; and achieving greater general health and overall wellbeing. Our second brand will focus more on the natural, organic and general wellness customer.”
Why did you decide to incorporate it in to your range?
“I quickly started to feel more at ease. My mental health started improving and I felt motivated and driven again. I even started sleeping longer, having averaged around four hours a night previously. CBD stimulates the endocannabinoid system, it helps to promote homeostasis in the body, reducing the sensation of pain and inhibiting inflammation. Cannabidiol (CBD) oil definitely helped me cope.”
Do you think the CBD market needs to be better regulated?
“Yes, 100%. I found a lot of misleading and incorrect product information and some very poor-quality oils. Unfortunately, most markets have some form of cowboy element and regulation will help to drive out those who aren’t in the industry for the right reasons. There are many brands, like us, that are genuinely trying to help improve people’s lives.”
Has the coronavirus pandemic had an impact on the launch of your business?
“We started this journey prior to Covid-19 and although it has been challenging and caused some delay in our launch, we’ve continued to push through. We’ve seen demand for our products already and we’ll continue building our brands as we planned.”
Do you have plans to add to your range?
“Our CBD gummies will be coming soon and we’ve started development on our third core oil range – our Target Edition, with added terpenes for flavour, aroma and goal-specific compounds as well as our topicals – joint and muscle creams and balms and other skin therapy products.
“So far, we’ve focused on building the online shop and having now established successful manufacturing and distribution partnerships, we’ll start heading towards building high-street retail opportunities that will prove to be invaluable for brand awareness and immediate access to our products.”
Maria and Craig’s
When better than Sober October to launch a non-alcoholic botanical spirit? Handcrafted in small batches in the UK, Maria and Craig’s blends premium broad-spectrum CBD isolate from Colorado with natural hemp, distilled sage, chamomile, juniper and orange blossom to create a delicious drink without the alcoholic side-effects.
Alongside other classic gin botanicals, each 500ml bottle contains 25mg of CBD. According to founder Craig Hutchison, it’s best served over ice with premium tonic and garnished with fresh orange peel. Here’s what else he had to tell us about his new spirit…
Why did you decide to create Maria & Craig’s?
Craig says: “We [Craig and his co-founder and wife Maria] are both fascinated with botanicals. In many ways humanity has lost the lore of ancient botanical remedies, and it is exciting that we’re rediscovering their benefits. We also love bringing new, intriguing, sophisticated flavour experiences to adults, designed to fit perfectly in adult social moments.” (Craig and Maria have also previously launched CEDER’S Distilled Non-Alcoholic Alt-Gin and CELTIC SOUL Distilled Non-Alcoholic Dark Spirit.)
How did you first discover CBD?
“I have used CBD for years, for a number of reasons, to help with anxiety, sleep and relaxing. Before now however, I have not been able to drink it with friends and family, so we decided to launch M&C’s, specifically for these occasions.”
Why did you decide to incorporate it in to your range?
“Our knowledge of non-alcoholic botanical spirits is extensive, so launching a new CBD botanical spirit brand was an organic and natural evolution.”
Do you think the CBD market needs to be better regulated?
“Yes, it is like the wild west, specifically with regards to the dosage and quality of CBD.”
Has the coronavirus pandemic had an impact on the launch of your business?
“Yes, we delayed the initial launch as we did not think it was appropriate to bring a new brand to market with so much uncertainty around. However, then we reconsidered, as we feel M&C’s could play a supportive role, helping folk find a moment of relaxation and helping them to connect with loved ones.”
