The drive: What challenges have you overcome?
The challenges began with creating the perfect recipe for our balms. We didn’t just want ‘another’ tallow balm, but instead we wanted ours to be unique – from texture, to absorbability to scent. We also wanted to keep everything as natural as possible but still to end up with a beautiful product that people enjoyed putting on their bodies. We wanted to create a lovely experience every time it was used. We started with a base recipe and then added our homegrown calendula flowers that had been infused into our homegrown olive oil. We live on a vineyard in Marlborough that is bordered with 200+ olive trees, which we harvest by hand. This provides us with a wonderful supply of extra virgin olive oil, which is a perfect addition to the balm. We also add coconut oil, jojoba oil, vitamin E oil and skin-loving essential oils for scent and healing. Finding just the right combination of all these ingredients has taken a lot of trial and error. I’ve been so grateful to our testers who have faithfully been the guinea pigs and given us valuable feedback! One of the other difficulties has been trying to do all of this while still keeping our products affordable. While these are luxury products, I didn’t want them to have the luxury price tag attached. I wanted people to be able to enjoy the healing benefits of tallow skincare without fearing the cost. This in itself has been a difficult road to navigate, but one in which I feel we have achieved.
Buying all the correct equipment that is needed for large-scale production has been tricky. Some of the soap-making equipment that is readily available overseas isn’t as easy to come by in New Zealand. I was very glad when I came across a New Zealand-based business where I could purchase handmade soap-making equipment. These quality products make all the difference with soap cutting. I am now able to consistently produce soaps of similar weight, since it is all cut perfectly. It is also so much quicker to use as it cuts 10 bars at a time, allowing me to have more time to focus on other aspects of the business.
The trust that is involved in producing a product that is helpful to other people is the inspiration to keep on going. To keep on developing. To keep on innovating. To keep on delivering even when the going gets tough. I’ve always been taught to have a hard work ethic and to never give up. I was born in South Africa and immigrated with my family to New Zealand when I was 10 years old. I feel that I have been blessed with the best of both worlds, as South Africans are widely known for their resilient nature and New Zealanders are known for their innovative ways. I believe that this has helped me, along with my parents’ guidance, to become the woman I now am with the drive to succeed. This is also how I developed the name of Gecko Creationz, a blending of my South African heritage with my love of New Zealand.
For better or worse: What are the pros and cons of running your own business?
Well, one wonderful advantage of running my own business is having direct communication with my customers. Whether it’s from selling at a market and hearing wonderful testimonials of how our products have changed someone’s life or getting a review from a happy customer online. They all give me a little buzz of happiness, knowing that I have been able to improve someone’s quality of life. Eczema is so prevalent in today’s society, and the relief that people can experience with using tallow products is so amazing. New Zealand grass-fed beef tallow is rich in vitamins A, D, E and K and it is also very similar to the oils produced by human skin. Therefore, the skin recognises it and it absorbs very easily, thus delivering the vitamins to where they’re needed to heal and repair. I truly love hearing how happy someone is to have finally found something to help them and I always welcome their repeat custom!!
It’s incredible to be able to be a stay-at-home mum while also being able to run my own business. To be available to the kids when they get home from school and to spend time with them is of paramount importance to me. I’ve grown up with a very close relationship with my parents (they actually live on the same property as we do!) and I want the same for my children.
One of the hard parts that we’ve experienced is the need for substantial financial outlay without any guarantee of return. So much of you is poured out financial-wise, time-wise, mental-wise…and the list just goes on. It’s tough at times, but we keep going, trusting that what we have started will come to fruition and be successful.
Soap making is quite a laborious task and when I started to make soap for my family years ago, I couldn’t fathom how anyone would want to make soap commercially! But here I am, making soaps to sell, so never say never! But yes, there is a lot involved in soap making (and also a LOT of cleanup!) and it needs to be done perfectly to get a well-made soap. Timing has to be spot on, and this is difficult when balancing the needs of my children as well. This part has not been easy to navigate. But knowing that I am creating a soap that cleanses without stripping the skin of its natural oils, one that is remarkedly different from commercial soaps, makes it all worthwhile. I know the relief that I have experienced from having chronically dry skin change to skin that is actually soft and silky. I attribute this dramatic improvement primarily to tallow skincare.
Hopes and dreams: What next?
Our goal is to reach as many people as possible with the healing abilities of beef tallow. To become a household name when it comes to natural skincare is our dream. To be readily available throughout New Zealand in gift shops, health care shops, boutiques and department stores would be such a pinnacle moment. All of these are hopes and dreams of ours, as we believe that we will be better able to serve our wider community with these opportunities. Our current list of products include Balms, Lipbalms, Soaps, Deodorants, Shampoo Bars, Salves and more. All of these variations are available for sale on our website. I still have so many more ideas! I would love the chance to bring all of this into reality. There are so many amazing resources that are readily available in nature, all with specific abilities to heal and protect. Let’s use what’s been given to us!
So, why choose Gecko Creationz? Because you are supporting someone just like you: a parent who is passionate about providing natural solutions for their family and for the extended community. I believe we should all have the opportunity to make choices that we deem are right for the well-being of our families. Together, we can make natural alternatives a trusted option!
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