The skin care range, Harrogate Sulphur Soap, consists of therapeutic cleansing products based on the sulphur- rich waters of Harrogate and is exported to many dermatologists and pharmacists around the globe – targeting the lucrative home spa market.
Phil Walker, managing director of Harrogate Sulphur Soap, stated, " Anyone who has heard of Sulphur Skin Care products tends to think of exotic locations such as the Dead Sea.
But people can look closer to home for a sulphur treatment.
Harrogate's water has many therapeutic qualities".
The new internet site hopes to gather further awareness of the products within the lucrative UK market, with Walker actively marketing their preventative benefits.
" Many companies try to sell Sulphur as a 'cure', but actually it is best used to help alleviate the symptoms of diseases like psoriasis by reducing itching and keeping the skin as clean and as fresh as possible" walker said.
The UK town of Harrogate has long used its plentiful supply of natural spring water to ride on the popularity of the Spa industry, however, when it fell out of fashion in the 20 th century the town capitalised on the increasing trend for natural skin therapies.
Following the publication of Edmunde Deane's work on the spring water in the 15 th century the town saw many visitors flock there in order to witness the healing properties of the spa water.
This interest has continued, with consumers now using the water to heal and help skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis – with Harrogate Sulphur Soap now available on the internet, targeting a wider target audience.
Diana Dodson of market research consultants, Euromontior, told CosmeticsDesign that the expansion into the home spa market is both industry and consumer driven.
"Consumers are looking into a more cost effective way to look after themselves rather than visit the more costly alternatives of Spas, while the industry is buying into the trend with the spa, niche and main stream market companies all developing home spa ranges" Dobson said.
The home spa treatment market may have grown through consumer reaction to the price of salon treatments.
Consumer research firm Mintel International, told CosmeticsDesign that "Notably, a quarter of those that had had spa treatments in the previous years were put off by the cost".
In turn this has increased the demand for home spa treatments, creating a mass market for the products, and hinting that the market is set to get bigger.