Introduce your business and tell us your story: How did you decide on what to sell, and how did you source your products?
When we founded Nourish more than a decade ago, the words "organic" and "beauty" were never found together. We were concerned by numerous studies and research that shed light on the hazardous chemicals in existing beauty products, and by the lack of regulations in the personal care industry. Believing that what you put on your body is every bit as important as what you put in it, we became "organic beauty pioneers," determined to create the very first line of chemical-free, environmentally friendly skincare products. Many of our products are formulated in-house using ethically sourced, organic, natural ingredients from around the world. Several of our products are also Fair Trade Certified.
How did you earn your first sales? Which channels are now generating the most traffic and sales for you?
We employed several online marketing tactics, affiliate sales, SEO/SEM and hired spokesperson and actress Christine Taylor to launch the brand. Brick and mortar retail has exploded and is doing excellent business, while ecommerce continues to be a strong contributor the bottom line. We are currently found in Target, Whole Foods, CVS and a range of stores across the United States.
Tell us about the back-end of your business. What tools and apps do you use to run your store? How do you handle shipping and fulfillment?
We use Mailchimp to help grow our email list, some Bold apps for product discounting and such, Yotpo to handle our reviews, and S Loyalty to run our loyalty rewards program. All have been great in growing the business, building a customer database and leveraging CRM. Through an outsourced fulfillment and warehousing operation that is certified to handle organic products.
What are your top recommendations for new store owners?
Opt for a template that's easy to customize, and don't be afraid to promote the heck out of it. Paid advertising will only get you so far, while brand evangelists will carry you and expand your reach.