A little bit about us!
We've been making MARO products for nearly 30 years.
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Hi, my name is Lee Coleman. I've been making MARO products for over 25 years. I'm a Martial Artist, having practised Wing Chun Kung Fu for many years and explored several others. I've done a fair amount of acting work as a live performer and on screen. I'm also a Natural Health Practitioner with an allergy testing degree in Applied Kinesiology and an interest in acupuncture. I was a co-responder with the Fire Service so well used to dealing with first aid. My family and friends were all test subjects over the years that helped prove the efficacity of our products. I designed them for myself initially as when I started Kung-Fu I was coming home with all kinds of training related injuries. I'd already had two serious motorcycle accidents that a long recovery had seen much muscle wastage and a drop in fitness levels which promted me to get myself in shape. My mother was a very skilled Aromatherapist and Homeopath who, after a year or so of trying different formulas, came up with our Multi-Application Remedial Oil. The brief I gave her was that I wanted something as effective as Dit Da Jow (Chinese Bruise/Hit Wine) but wasn't alcohol based (it really drys the skin) and could be used on open wounds, (The problem with Dit Da Jow is that it can cause blood poisoning depending on the herbs or alcohol used). First Aid in a Bottle needs to be in everyone's house, car or workplace, it really is the most useful thing you can have at hand.
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We've attended many shows over the years including Christmas fairs, Martial Arts shows, gift and craft fairs, but our main sales come from recommendation and word of mouth from satisfied customers. We started off small, mainly because we wanted to remain independent and in control of our own products. We've always made our products in small batches to ensure quality, we've enjoyed meeting lots of people and helping with all kinds of injuries and skin related issues over the years. It's fair to say we have been met by a lot of skeptisism over the years which is why we put a 90 day money back guarantee on everything. |
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Yes, that me. I'm demonstrating how to use a cranes beak to break a cement roof tile at our "Enter the Dragon" themed Martial Arts training camp back in 2013. (No actual Cranes were harmed!). It was my first Kung Fu instructor who really highlighted the benefits of Martial Arts Remedial Oil early on. After using it for myself for a few months and being impressed about how quickly my bruises were healing, more importantly the lack of pain I was in, my Sifu (Teacher) came into the club with a massive dressing on his hand. Turned out he'd managed to put a drill bit right through his thumb, even had to put the drill into reverse to get it out, ouch! After only a few days of applying, not only had the holes healed but he was no longer swollen or in any discomfort amazing us all. |
I spent many years travelling to various Martial Arts clubs and events, both in the UK and abroad, but always found myself drawn to helping people with injuries. Either doing acupuncture or simply applying my oils, the intent was never to sell, only to heal.
From broken toes to torn meniscus, gravel rash to Kidney infections, our oils have been tried and tested on so many things I was compelled to making MARO available to everyone, I just could not ignore its benefits especially when using wall bags or practising Iron Palm.
My wife and kids have always helped at events. Many hours spent in a car or van, sat behind a fold up table or sent on a mission to hand out leaflets to complete strangers but to this day will be the first to tell freinds to "put some MARO on it".
One of my daughters will not use anything else on her skin, apart from having the very occassional and inevitable teenage spot or two her skin is immaculate and trouble free. Another who suffers with severe Acne keeps it under control with ICE and only has major break outs when trying new products or clothes.
We continue to make MARO, the addition of Intensive Care Emollient only came about from customer feedback at shows where a few people told us they didn't like putting oil on their skin. I took our Multi-Application Remedial Oil and blended with some incredibly good, natural moisturing cream and a rich shea butter thinking it would simply be a good hand cream. Little was I to know just how effective it would prove to be.
I've blended essential oils for all kinds of things and use them daily. Lavender and Tea Tree to guard against or treat althelete's foot, Peppermint for indigestion, citrus oils for cleaning, Cinamon and Eucalyptus for colds. You need to know what you're doing of course but thankfully with my mothers guidance and years of study I've become quite an efficient aromatherapist myself.
Traditional Chinese Medicine is a vast subject, I've studied some acupuncture and had some great help from others in this area, whilst I don't claim to be an expert I've helped dozens of fellow students and friends by using basic techniques and intuitive healing based on energies perceived during treatment.
Years of having motorcycles, animals and children have given me endless opportunities to treat all kinds of things so I know first hand what helps and what doesn't!
Our mission is to eventually bring the original "First Aid in a Bottle" to a broader audience and see our I.C.E. Cream being distributed through main retailers in the UK and eventually world-wide. We'd love to think MARO could become a household name for everyone and not just us!
