When toilet training their oldest child and going through the time-consuming process of changing sheets in the middle of the night, Jaclyn Price struggled to source a suitable product that was both sustainable and used recycled materials. This formed the inspiration behind Evelyn & Co, a family-owned business based in Victoria, Australia. They offer a range of waterproof, non-toxic products to protect your bed, car and couch, all made using sustainably sourced materials designed in Australia. Here Jaclyn talks to The Natural Parent Magazine about the passion behind their business, their biggest innovation, the challenges they have overcome, and their hopes and dreams for the future.
The passion: What inspired you to set up your business?
As a parent of 2 young children, I understand how challenging the early years can be. I am a firm believer in utilising any products or hacks that can make your daily life easier. When my oldest child started experiencing bed wetting, I couldn’t find a suitable product that met my focus on sustainability and the use of non-toxic material. I was off work at the time on parental leave and thought if I identified a gap in the market in this area it is likely other parents or carers had as well. After approximately 12 months of research, we were able to find materials and a suitable factory that ticked all our sustainability and non-toxic boxes.
All our products are made using recycled materials, such as discarded water bottles, and utilise non-toxic waterproofing as well as organic cotton. Knowing that there was an opportunity to provide the market with a sustainable option is what inspired me to launch Evelyn & Co.
In addition to this, I wanted to push myself outside of my comfort zone and demonstrate to my kids that when you believe in something, you can challenge yourself and give it a shot.
The launch: How did you start out in the beginning?
In one word. Slowly. It took over 18 months of research, mistakes and learning to launch the business. Even then, it was followed up with some more mistakes. We are still in the early stages of the business, so we are constantly learning and trying to evolve. There were some days at the beginning where you didn’t know whether you had made the right decision and it is even harder when you are constantly inundated on social media with overnight success stories, or ‘viral products’ that you can’t help but compare yourself to. As my husband reminds me often, “It is a marathon, not a sprint”.
I am passionate about providing consumers with sustainable options and believe when given a choice, most consumers will choose the option which is not only better for them but also the planet, which is what has kept me going through any rocky stages, particularly at the beginning.
The innovation: What was the biggest breakthrough for you with your business?
Getting the material and composition right was so important for me. I was determined to utilise material that had been made from recycled products, otherwise my purpose and vision for the business would not be met. It likely took me 10 times longer than the average new business to find a factory that could meet our sustainability standards. I utilised a local sourcing company to ensure that everything was accounted for. When we were able to source the correct materials through a Global Certified Company, it was a game changer and we were finally able to move through to the sampling and production stage.
Once we finally had our products in our hot little hands, I attended a Baby Expo where I had a lot of enquiries about larger sizes of our bed pads. We decided to expand both our colour range and our sizing. We started off with just the one size for a single and king single, with 2 colour variations. Following on from the expo, we decided we needed to expand. We currently have a double bed size in production and queen and king to be released in 2025. A lot of the enquiries were coming from parents who either had a child that went straight from their cot into a double bed, or parents who co-sleep with their children in their queen or king size bed. Acknowledging the need to expand our product range was a big step for our small business. It meant going all in, which is a risk, but we firmly believe in our products and knowing that there is a market out there for sustainable solutions.
Yin and Yang: How do you balance work and family?
I am very lucky to have a supportive family and a husband who is a very hands-on partner and father. As a mother and a small business owner, at times it has been hard to find a balance and not feel guilty that you are spending too much time on the computer, or on the flip side, not spending enough time on the business to try and grow the brand. I think that this is a work in progress, and I utilise time when the kids are at kindergarten or in bed to do most of my work.
I always find I have a clearer mind and focus about the tasks ahead for the day, whether they are work or family related, when I have a clear to-do list. So I ensure I make a list for the next day before I go to sleep each night. I also prioritise my physical health and know that I am a more productive and “nicer” person if I can get out and do a workout or go for a run in the morning.
