If ever there’s a walking advertisement for a successful brand, it’s New Zealand entrepreneur Sarah Townsend behind The Aromatherapy Co, I thought over lunch as I heard her speak filled with passion for her company…
If ever there’s a walking advertisement for a successful brand, it’s New Zealand entrepreneur Sarah Townsend behind The Aromatherapy Co, I thought over lunch as I heard her speak filled with passion for her company.
"That’s the best speech I’ve heard all year" I said to the other beauty writer sitting next to me and she agreed; it was lively and interesting and not full of the same hackneyed cliches and anecdotes we are used to hearing. Rather, she was fresh and honest and kept us captivated for twenty minutes, while being timed by the chef looking on, at Mantells at Mt Eden on Thursday.
Sarah says the trend for the last three to five years is for a "simple life" with vege gardens, hand-picked flowers and so on, therefore candles and oils are selling well. In fact, the beige diffuser in the classic ‘Naturals’ range alone sells half a million a year. The Naturals range has been out for twenty years now – it was their first range, and is their number one selling. It is joined by other trendy ranges, this season following the current fashion of fluoros and pastels. I got a fluoro pink candlestick and glass candle in hot pink.
The Therapy range started two years ago using essential oil formulas that Sarah had developed at the start but the market wasn’t ready for it until now.
"Everything you put on your skin is made, and will always be made, in New Zealand. The Therapy range is 100% NZ made, of pure essential oils" she declares.
So, what’s next? Look out for pomegranate products, rose hip, cuticle oil cream and a new eczema cream.
The Aromatherapy Co. home fragrance and body care ranges are available at leading department stores nationwide, including Farmers, Acquisitions and Living and Giving. See www.thearomatherapycompany.co.nz
Words and photos, Megan Robinson
12 October 2012
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