A Double AKT worth watching out for!

This month Beeble is backing two former actors turned entrepreneurs, or as they like to call themselves; A Double AKT.

Ed and Andy met performing on the stage in the West End of London in 2015. It’s a gruelling profession – long days, longer nights and rehearsals on your day off! Add in to the mix, they are performing under bright lights, singing & dancing, whilst using the same costumes for every show. It’s a lot of blood, sweat and tears. And for actors performing on stage, mainstream deodorants just don’t quite cut the mustard!

Ed Currie and Andy Coxon~ the co-founders of AKT

In 2018, with the stress and strain of a full-time West-End job, Ed and Andy were figuring out how to get their show on the road. They decided that a Kickstarter Crowdfunding campaign was their best option and so with support, largely from the theatre community, they were able to produce their prototype deodorant and distribute it to the whole West-End for testing. It was an immediate hit - however, with limited time to commit to their business, progress was slower than they would have liked. BUT…

 

Fast forward to 2020 and the pandemic threw the theatre industry into a tailspin. For many, not only in the performing arts, this has meant crippling anxiety on when their jobs may return to normal. However, for Ed and Andy it has been an incredible opportunity to seize the moment on their business idea.

After years of recipe trials, tweaks and tribulations they were finally ready to launch their deodorant and all of a sudden they had all the time in the world to execute it.

I for one, have never been a big fan of the standard deodorant options however in me, they have a customer for life. I feel like I’ve been able to throw away the aerosol deodorant can, designed for teenagers, and dreadful for the environment. Likewise, I’ve never been a huge fan of roll-on deodorant preferred by the baby-boomer generation (and equally bad for the planet). At last I have found a deodorant that smells sophisticated, leaves no carbon-footprint in my wake and actually works – it’s one of the few products I use that leaves me feeling incredible after use.

Why does Beeble Back AKT I hear you cry?

First and foremost, we love businesses and people who want to do things the right way for the 21st Century. AKT is made with all natural ingredients, is vegan and animal cruelty free and is not gender-biased.

In addition, the packaging is free of plastic, designed in a sleek, aluminium tube, inspired by theatre billboards. Aluminium is also one of the few materials which lasts forever without its quality deteriorating, whilst being 100% recyclable.

AND they smell great, which is part of the reason it works for men and women. I personally use Scent #2 which is called ‘After Thunder’ and uses a combination of Cedar, Eucalyptus and Bitter Orange – mmmm…

Why now?

Well, it just so happens that it’s Pride Month in June and as proud gay business owners, I’m sure Ed and Andy would approve.

I was lucky enough to meet Ed and Andy (albeit over Zoom) earlier in the year and AKT are making exciting moves in an industry which is rife for disruption.

I encourage you to explore your own options for a sustainable deodorant but as far as I’m concerned, this is a tough AKT to follow.

Ed Currie and Andy Coxon ~ the co-founders of AKT

Written by Matt