Concerned about the ever-increasing presence of plastic on supermarket shelves, as well as the chemicals used in health and beauty products, Vanessa and Monica set out to make a change. Both passionately connected to the ocean, they dreamed of creating natural alternatives for everyday products, using only home-compostable, planet-friendly packaging. They founded Aotearoad in 2016 and since then have created a brand of deodorants and personal care products that are New Zealand made, plastic free, compostable, 100% natural, affordable and, most importantly, effective. Here they talk to The Natural Parent Magazine about the passion behind Aotearoad and their business journey so far.
The passion: What inspired you to set up your business?
We were so concerned about the amount of chemicals and plastic packaging used in the health and beauty products that we used, that we felt compelled to do something about it. The idea for Aotearoad was born from a desire to help reduce plastics on shelves, whilst creating a high-quality, affordable beauty range that allows consumers to make simple, effective changes to their day-to-day beauty essentials.
The launch: How did you start out in the beginning?
We knew we had created a great product, but our success was dependent on speed to market. So we decided to launch with Foodstuffs into New World stores and overseas with a large chain in the US and UK. This allowed us to sell in volume at a more affordable price from most consumers.
The innovation: What was the biggest breakthrough for you with your business?
Our biggest breakthrough was perfecting the deodorant. It took almost a year, but we now have one of the top performant deodorants on the market. And it wasn’t easy housing it in a paper compostable tube!
