The Edinburgh Reporter January 2021

14
BUSINESS
The Edinburgh Reporter
MyTOT will be the first place to
look for second hand goods
MyTOT is the site for parents
looking to sell or buy good second
hand children's items.
Everyone knows how expensive
it can be kitting out your kids, so
this new app - born in Edinburgh
and quietly launched just a couple
of weeks ago - is aimed at making
the most of past purchases, and
making it easy to pick up some
new things, usually at a bit of a
discount.
This could be a good way of
decluttering and if you buy here
then you are contributing to the
circular economy rather than
buying new. MyTOT is all about
sustainability. It is free and easy
to register on the app which is
available on Google Play and
on the App Store. There are no
transaction fees or listing fees
for the moment, and the app has
been launched ahead of plan in a
determined effort to help parents
out in 2021.
Edinburgh-based MyTOT wants
to be the first choice for parents
looking for quality second hand
children's goods, and founder
Kirsten Bell explained that she
recognises the pandemic could
mean that at least some of the
High Street has to move online.
MyTOT is a "parent-powered
marketplace where you can buy
and sell quality second hand,
unused and unique children's
goods". There are various
categories of goods for sale -
Kirsten Bell, founder of myTOT
everything you need for the young
people in your life, from clothes
to toys. One of their aims is to
save parents valuable time when
searching for items they need.
It is very quick to list items, add
photos and add them to your own
'shop', allowing you to recover
some of your investment in bigger
items like prams and car seats,
and reduce waste by selling the
items your child no longer needs
rather than adding them to landfill.
We spotted a Frog tadpole bike
suitable for a toddler, which has
never been used, bundles of
books, buggies and clothes of all
shapes and sizes. All items are
listed with a photo by the seller
and the payment through PayPal
offers you protection just in case
anything goes wrong.
As well as pre-loved goods there
are handmade items, an area
which Kirsten wants to develop
even more, allowing local crafters
a place to show off their wares
without leaving home.
As well as a buying and selling
platform, the app will connect
parents, retailers and charities
who sign up. There are already
some really useful parenting tips
on the Facebook page.
The company has partnered up
with the charity Cash for Kids,
and has already donated to the
charity which responds to children
with life limiting illness, or other
support needs or indeed who are
living in poverty in Edinburgh and
the Lothians.
Items are delivered by Parcel2Go
which claims to be the cheapest
parcel delivery in the UK. There
are plenty of guidelines for sellers
and, perhaps more importantly
for buyers, about preparing goods
for delivery by cleaning and
disinfecting them.
And there are rules for
posting any items on the site
to protect buyers. The app has
been developed with advanced
technology to protect any users
against trolling and data breaches.
Kirsten Bell is the co-founder
of myTOT and concentrates on
marketing, business development
and communications. She is an
experienced graphic designer and
marketer, with direct experience
in advertising and marketing
in the retail sector. Kirsten was
the lead graphic designer and
head of marketing for Arbuthnott
Investment & Lettings prior to
founding myTOT.
After studying visual
communications and graphic
design at college, Kirsten then
graduated with a degree in
public relations, marketing and
events management, and she
was recently shortlisted for
the Business Women Scotland,
Start-up Business of the year
2020.
mytot.co
Barber of New Wave-rley
L-R Kyle Ross and Ryan Crighton
by Stephen Rafferty
An award-winning Aberdeen
barber has signed a 10-year lease
on a 1,118 sq ft unit within the
New Waverley development, near
the Royal Mile.
Sovereign Grooming – home of
Kyle Ross, winner of Best Barber
UK – will create 20 new jobs in the
Capital and at another new outlet
due to open in Glasgow in the
Spring.
The expansion is a result of
securing a six-figure funding
package from a group of investors
led by MB Martin & Partners Ltd,
which specialises in helping highpotential
early stage companies
grow.
Sovereign Grooming offers luxury
hair and beard services alongside
a unique blend of male-focussed
waxing, massage and facial treatments.
Kyle Ross, who launched
Sovereign marketing expert Ryan
Crighton, has won a catalogue of
industry awards since opening on
Aberdeen’s Union Street in 2016,
and has been named among the
UK’s elite barbers by GQ Magazine.
Commenting on the funding
package, which is made up of
both equity investment and a debt
facility brokered by MB Martin &
Partners Ltd, Kyle said: “We are delighted
to get this deal completed
and access the capital required
to expand our business into two
more cities.
“We offer a very different salon
experience for men, bringing
together top barbers and male
image experts to offer a complete
grooming experience.”
Ryan Crighton, who was a
journalist for 10 years before
moving into marketing, added: “We
are excited about the business
experience and pedigree which
our investors bring to the table.
As we execute our business plan
in a rapidly changing business
environment, it is reassuring to be
working alongside partners who
have been over the course before."
MB Martin & Partners Ltd
Chief Executive, Moray Martin,
has joined Sovereign’s board as
chairman under the deal and will
support the business founders
through the growth phase.
Mr Martin said: “I am delighted
that we have been able to coordinate
and provide financial
support to Sovereign. We recognise
the ability, experience and
commitment of the founding team
and their complementary skill-sets
make this an attractive business
to invest in.”
Mr Ross and Mr Crighton remain
the largest shareholders in the
business, retaining 80% of the
firm’s equity shares between them.
An employee share scheme has
also been carved out as part of the
deal, which over time will see 10%
of the business owned by loyal
and strategically important staff.
Anderson Strathern acted on
behalf of the investors in the deal,
while Aberdein Considine advised
Sovereign Grooming on both the
investment and commercial lease.
The business and its founders
also received tax support from
Anderson Anderson & Brown.
Ritchie Whyte, a Partner in
Aberdein Considine’s Corporate
& Business Advisory team, said:
“It’s great to get this deal over the
line and to see confidence in a
high street business during this
unprecedented time. Sovereign
has rebounded strongly to secure
this backing, which will kick-start
an exciting new chapter for the
business.”
sovereign-grooming.com
Look out for bikes
Cyclists can be hard to see in the dark