At Aki Sunday, they understand how pregnancy can affect what you use on your skin. With scent aversion, skin sensitivity issues, and concern for what is best for your growing baby, it can be an anxious time. As a mama-to-be herself, founder Jade Forster identified the importance of taking the guesswork out of pregnancy-safe skincare, and after over a year of development and testing, they developed their Universal Body Oil which can be used top to toe by the whole family, but especially by expectant mamas. This powerful yet gentle oil helps prevent pregnancy stretch marks, reduces the appearance of wrinkles and scars and delivers deep hydration. Their Australian-made, fragrance-free and vegan formula can be used daily to hydrate, soothe and nourish beautiful skin. Here Jade shares their journey so far with The Natural Parent Magazine.
The passion: What inspired you to set up your business?
As a creative person and an introvert, I’ve always had a strong desire to build my own brand and work for myself. I created Aki Sunday before I became a mama – I had a dream of building a boutique store centred around a feeling. You know the gentle feeling of a cosy Sunday in Autumn? That. That feeling became our namesake – Aki Sunday. Aki is Japanese for Autumn.
With a love for children and having studied both children’s services and retail operations, opening a family business was a natural decision.
The launch: How did you start out in the beginning?
We started out with a very small selection of baby items like dummies and swaddles and we had a ‘home’ category where we sold handmade (by us) ceramic candle and incense holders, incense and crystals. As we approached our re-launch when releasing our Universal Body Oil, this no longer felt right for the business so we phased this out – we are constantly evolving!
The innovation: What was the biggest breakthrough for you with your business?
Definitely developing our own product and re-launching! Our Universal Body Oil has become the beating heart of our brand. It’s so luxurious and such a special product – everyone loves it and I couldn’t be prouder of what we created!
Yin and Yang: How do you balance work and family?
It can get very difficult and sometimes balls must be dropped – you have to decide which balls are glass and which are rubber. My daughter always comes first no matter what – the dishes can always wait and they often do. The to-do list is always in shuffle mode as priorities change and it’s important to know that nobody can do it all. My partner is my biggest supporter in everything I do. He’s the glue that holds us together and without him, I wouldn’t be where I am personally or professionally – I’m incredibly lucky.
