When searching for sunscreen for her children, Solar Nicholls was looking for something that was lasting, affordable and created with kids in mind. Struggling to find anything suitable, she launched Sunnyo, an SPF50 mineral sunscreen that is certified vegan and 100% organic & reef safe. This gentle, natural sunscreen contains no nasties, so you can be assured that it is safe for children, infants and women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. The Fam Bam Sunscreen lasts, is water resistant, affordable and suitable for the whole family. Here, Solar talks to The Natural Parent Magazine about the inspiration behind Sunnyo, balancing work and family, and her hopes and dreams for the future.
The passion: What inspired you to set up your business?
I actually went on a hunt for sunscreen for my kids and had 3 specific things in mind:
- Sunscreen made with children in mind
- Sunscreen that lasts
- Affordable sunscreen
After much struggle to find a sunscreen that met these prerequisites, I had a lightbulb moment and found a business!
The launch: How did you start out in the beginning?
Thankfully, with my digital marketing, content creation and ecommerce background, I was able to hit the ground running with marketing my product and business. I created a bit of hype and interest pre-launch and did this organically on Instagram and TikTok. I sold out of my pre-launch stock in March 2022 and brought forward my public launch sooner because of it!
The innovation: What was the biggest breakthrough for you with your business?
My biggest breakthrough was when I got noticed by Mamamia / Mia Freedman’s ‘Lady Startup’ on Instagram less than a month after launch! They reposted one of my stop motion videos of my sunscreen to their verified page. It may not seem like a big deal to some people but as a fan of Mia Freedman, I was over the moon and definitely had a bit of a fangirl moment.
Yin and Yang: How do you balance work and family?
Some people call me a workaholic. I work a day job in digital marketing in an agency, I do a bit of freelance work and I run my business. What I want people to know is that everything I do for ‘work’ is a passion of mine and it’s fun to me, I truly love what I do! However, I am mindful of the balance. I do take days off to be with my children and the weekends are usually for family and friends too. I am also very lucky to have a very supportive partner and family who are also very hands on with the kids.
