'We've tried to cut costs where we can'

Jill and Mark Moss set up Autobrite Direct 20 years ago in a garage

A couple whose company sells car cleaning products around the world say the last 18 months have been the hardest of their 20 years in business.

Autobrite Direct, based at Festival Park in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, was set up by husband and wife Mark and Jill Moss in their garage in 2005.

Despite experiencing huge growth from humble beginnings, the increased cost of living has forced them to adapt.

"We've moved into manufacturing now, we've tried to cut costs where we can. We'll be alright, but it's not nice," Mrs Moss said.

"We're lucky we've got a brand that's been established for 20 years," she added.

When they set up the firm, Mark had been cleaning lorries for a living, but needed to take on something less strenuous after injuring his back.

"Me and Mark are just dead normal people," Mrs Moss said. "We go in the warehouse, we pack orders, we fill bottles."

Despite that, they were "very proud" of what they had built together, she said.

She added that they were also heavily involved in the firm's social media marketing, which has meant people got to know them as well as their products.

Mr Moss said: "We are the business. We deal with a lot of the local community, we get to speak to a lot of people."