Little Urchin is about to celebrate its 3rd year leading the natural sunscreen market. We spoke to Chris - captain of the LU ship about the journey so far.
Chris, what was it like putting something on which you've spent months working finally out into the world?
"There was a great sense of relief - that I was actually realising this goal that I'd been working toward for so long. Of course, the excitement was mixed with uncertainty as to whether it would work as well as I hoped!"
"Before launch, we went back to basics and did the grassroots thing. We walked the streets and beaches of Sydney, talking to people and shop-owners, getting the word out there as best we could. This effort resulted in gaining 23 stockists!"
"That summer, in 2016, when we launched Little Urchin, it was meant to be a 'test' to see how the products were received. by the end of the summer, we had 150 stockists!"
"I knew about the damaging impact some conventional, chemical-based sunscreens were having on the reefs before we launched Little Urchin. And I knew from our research there was a trend coming for natural sunscreen, yet I found most people didn't know about it. So, educating people on why they should choose natural* sunscreen was crucial. We wanted to part of that conversation and have a balanced basis for communication. We also felt we were launching products that were beautiful in design and beautiful for our customers to experience."
What's been a big learning curve for you over the past 3 years?
"Key to enabling the business to get where it is today has been creating and sustaining momentum in the business. Until only a few months ago, I was only working on Little Urchin part-time. I made a consistent effort to keep the momentum building across all aspects of the business - the whole philosophy of the 'snowball effect' - to keep the business moving forward. My team wear so many hats, but that's what keeps the business moving."
"In any new business, there are quite big moments which are scary. Especially when you're taking risks. There are lots of well-meaning people, including myself, asking 'are you sure?' at pivotal times."
"Sometimes, self-doubt intrudes. 'Do I take this leap of faith?' These are moments when you just have to pause and maintain the gravitas, but there's still excitement."
What's been a super, massive highlight?
"The ability to make a positive impact with a business that has a profound reach. The business offers lots of opportunities to support different causes, work with a range of talented people, support/sponsor a surf grom in New Zealand, for example. This makes you feel great!"
"Some big highlights have been unexpected. I've been fortunate to have wonderful people and businesses reach out and get in contact - from all over the world. I'm working with people who are creating awesome things with us. I'm just constantly surprised and delighted by that."
* Little Urchin uses the term ‘natural’ because the ingredients in our products are ones found in nature that are unharmful to the body and used in their natural form or are refined, purified or transformed in the laboratory from sources in nature. The refinement, purification and transformation processes of certain ingredients are chemical processes required to make the underlying, natural ingredients suitable for use in a sunscreen or moisturiser product. These processes do not involve the use of synthetic chemicals.
