A STUDENT from Swanmore has found business success with his start-up clothing business - and now he's taking on the major dry robe brands.

Ben Penrose, who is studying at Cornwall Business School, launched business Vintage Religion in 2021.

On the back of its success, he has now set up a spin off company.

After securing a £2,000 investment in 2021, Ben was able to establish his robe challenger company Zen Beach.

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The final year business and entrepreneurship student designed simple fleece and towel-lined robes which would appeal to his surfer, paddle boarding and swimmer friends who want to warm up after cold water activity.

Ben said: “I was lucky enough to receive incredible advice and mentoring, meeting a fabulous contact at a Chamber of Commerce event.

“Essentially, we’ve created a bit of a movement via our network of students, graduates and small business owners looking out for one another and helping with favours, introductions and swapping goods and services.

“This year, I will be launching our very first poncho-style towelling robes which will be entirely manufactured in Cornwall – before moving on to our fleece and towel-lined robes.

Hampshire Chronicle: Benjamin Penrose of Zen Beach Vintage Religion

“I’m proud to be able to pivot the business away from overseas imports and make steps to address some of Cornwall’s bigger challenges.”

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With the help of fellow creatives at Falmouth University, he has so far engaged a number of student entrepreneurs and creatives in both paid and voluntary roles including social media, web management and marketing.

He has also worked with models, artists and photographers to launch the new challenger brand.

However it's not all been plain sailing, in 2021 the Suez Canal crisis caused chaos with supply chains around the world.

Ben suddenly saw his international shipping costs soar from £400 to more than £3,000 within four weeks.

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In the months that followed, he began undertaking a special social action project as part of his studies at Cornwall Business School.

In tandem with this, Ben came to understand first hand that buyers in the UK were not only extremely invested in the origins of his product materials but in the manufacturing and shipping process too.

With support from his tutors and student network, Ben set out to re-design and re-launch his products as part of a renewed mission to which help benefit the Cornish business ecosystem.

Ben's robes come either fleece or towel lined, and cost £119.99 or £109.99 respectively. For more go to zenbeach.co.uk/

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