Why Change?

That's the question many people have asked me when I've mentioned that I'm changing my brand name.

The answer is simple, yet will take a little bit of explanation. If you're interested, please read on. If not, just read the last paragraph!

When I originally began researching skin care products, I realised that the big companies were making millions of dollars putting sometimes questionable ingredients into fancy bottles and selling them for high prices. Their advertising budgets were enormous, using film stars as a selling point to promote their products.

In my quest to produce more natural products, using plant based ingredients, I researched a number of 'eco friendly' natural products already on the market. I found that these products, although natural and plant based, had very little in them that was of any benefit to the skin. They were little more than plant oil, water and emulsifier.

My formulation experiments included more advanced ingredients, such as the big companies were using, but in a natural base like the eco friendly companies. My ultimate aim was to educate my customers to ignore the fancy packaging and glossy magazine ads and look at the ingredients. In short, I wanted you all to be more discerning; to get the best value for money products. That's where my name came into being. Skinflint - it had the word 'skin' and its definition loosely meant to be careful with your money. Perfect.

As time has gone on and my loyal customer base were pleased with my products, I continued to research new ingredients. My products became more and more sophisticated with added 'super ingredients' and my customers liked the results they were getting.

Five years on, I look at my formula and I can see that I'm putting a top notch product into, in many cases, basic packaging and basic labelling. I would dearly love to use even more'super ingredients'. But, the fact is, they are very expensive. And so a decision was made to change my branding, making it more upmarket. Bottles and labels will reflect the quality of the product inside them. Innovative and highly regarded ingredients can be incorporated into specialist products such as an anti-aging serum and a repair cream. I don't feel that the brand name Skinflint is in synergy with this sort of product development.

My new brand name is simple and the labelling and packaging is still simple & practical, but stylish at the same time. I would like to have my products standing proud in the front of a hair salon or beautician's shelves, rather than hiding behind all the others. I know my products are good, I use them and love the results. My customers tell me how much they love them. Now, I want them to look great too.

The new brand name and packaging will be revealed in the very place where Skinflint began, my home town of Nyabing. If you'd like to see it and be in the running for a great prize, then come along to the CWA Market Day at the Nyabing Pavilion on Thursday 6th December. Doors open at 9.30 am. Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea is available and is, of course, all home made.
See you there!