Cosmetics industry veteran Stirling Murray hopes to raise �640,000 on AIM shortly for beauty brand consultancy The Core Business.

Lewis Charles is broker and ARM Corporate Finance nominated adviser to The Core Business, which the float is expected to value at some �1.8 million. The company, which made �87,000 pre-tax last year on �136,000 turnover, projects pre-tax profits of �250,000 for 2007 on turnover of �2 million, as it pursues its goal of building a 'total beauty management group'.

Chief executive Murray, who has held senior posts with the likes of Revlon, Estee Lauder and Rimmel, is steering The Core Business, helped by 23-year-old executive brand director May Jennings, a London College of Fashion graduate who has worked for beauty brands REN and Jo Malone. Murray is on the board of Blockhead Brands, where The Core Business also has a stake.

With past consultancy clients including Elite Models, Manicare and Racoon, the company hopes to thrive through consultancy and brand management, brand distribution and brand development. The Core Business will be involved in this year's launch of the 'Blockhead' sun care brand and a 'male grooming range', in both of which it has an equity interest.

Pricing and other details are expected soon.