1 00:00:10,844 --> 00:00:12,565 Speaker 1: Makeup is my therapy. 2 00:00:13,884 --> 00:00:14,795 Speaker 1: obsessed and 3 00:00:14,795 --> 00:00:15,244 Speaker 2: I don't 4 00:00:16,045 --> 00:00:16,454 Speaker 2: about it. 5 00:00:20,045 --> 00:00:22,675 Speaker 2: Hello and welcome to You Beauty, the daily podcast for 6 00:00:22,675 --> 00:00:26,074 Speaker 2: your face. I'm Kelly McCarron and welcome to the formula. 7 00:00:26,644 --> 00:00:29,685 Speaker 2: Today I'm chatting with Camille and Georgie, the duo behind 8 00:00:29,685 --> 00:00:33,714 Speaker 2: Bronte and Soma. Camille and Georgie, welcome to the formula. 9 00:00:34,165 --> 00:00:34,324 Speaker 2: You 10 00:00:34,324 --> 00:00:36,255 Speaker 1: have such beautiful skin, 11 00:00:36,324 --> 00:00:37,265 Speaker 2: but how? 12 00:00:40,095 --> 00:00:42,534 Speaker 2: What was it like because Mecca. 13 00:00:43,275 --> 00:00:47,144 Speaker 2: To a lot of Australian women in particular, is kind 14 00:00:47,144 --> 00:00:50,495 Speaker 2: of like a famous person. So just like if you worked, like, 15 00:00:50,505 --> 00:00:53,385 Speaker 2: I have a friend that worked for the Kardashians many 16 00:00:53,385 --> 00:00:55,324 Speaker 2: years ago, and everyone's like, What was it like? Tell 17 00:00:55,324 --> 00:00:58,505 Speaker 2: us everything. Tell us what it was like actually working 18 00:00:58,505 --> 00:01:03,334 Speaker 2: at Mecca. What don't people realize about the business? Oh, 19 00:01:03,464 --> 00:01:06,905 Speaker 2: I love, love Mecca. I think the business, I think 20 00:01:06,905 --> 00:01:11,025 Speaker 2: Joe Horgan is unbelievable. I got a really lucky period. 21 00:01:11,104 --> 00:01:12,665 Speaker 2: I was there over 6 years. 22 00:01:13,295 --> 00:01:15,965 Speaker 2: And so I joined in 2017, where it was still 23 00:01:15,965 --> 00:01:19,444 Speaker 2: very much like a big startup. But it was for, 24 00:01:19,554 --> 00:01:24,205 Speaker 2: before kind of the huge rise of Maxima and then 25 00:01:24,215 --> 00:01:27,404 Speaker 2: then merged Cosmetica and Maxima Tameka. And so it was 26 00:01:27,404 --> 00:01:29,205 Speaker 2: still very much like you could walk over and sit 27 00:01:29,205 --> 00:01:30,645 Speaker 2: on someone's desk and say, how are we gonna get 28 00:01:30,645 --> 00:01:32,684 Speaker 2: this project done, or how are we gonna land this initiative, 29 00:01:32,694 --> 00:01:34,004 Speaker 2: or you could kind of stand at the office and 30 00:01:34,004 --> 00:01:34,845 Speaker 2: sort of see everyone. 31 00:01:35,275 --> 00:01:38,025 Speaker 2: And it was very, as I say, like a startup. 32 00:01:38,065 --> 00:01:41,095 Speaker 2: Like we're all in it together. Everyone so believed in 33 00:01:41,345 --> 00:01:45,624 Speaker 2: bringing great customer experience and great brands, and Mecca and 34 00:01:45,624 --> 00:01:47,745 Speaker 2: Joe give you the authority to do that. There was 35 00:01:47,745 --> 00:01:49,504 Speaker 2: always a saying that do the wrong thing for the 36 00:01:49,504 --> 00:01:51,944 Speaker 2: right reason. So if it cost a bit more, but 37 00:01:51,944 --> 00:01:54,544 Speaker 2: the design was amazing, or if you could refund that 38 00:01:54,544 --> 00:01:56,974 Speaker 2: extra product because the customer, it felt so important to them, 39 00:01:57,105 --> 00:02:00,584 Speaker 2: you could really push and push more than previous places 40 00:02:00,584 --> 00:02:02,465 Speaker 2: I'd worked that was very like, here are our rules 41 00:02:02,465 --> 00:02:04,304 Speaker 2: and our policies and guidelines. 42 00:02:04,724 --> 00:02:08,624 Speaker 2: So I think as a business, that entrepreneurial mindset meant 43 00:02:08,624 --> 00:02:10,864 Speaker 2: that you could do anything you want. So I started 44 00:02:10,864 --> 00:02:13,984 Speaker 2: in retail operations. I then came and looked at a 45 00:02:13,984 --> 00:02:16,984 Speaker 2: project on services, then became the head of services. At 46 00:02:16,984 --> 00:02:19,304 Speaker 2: the time, they only had makeup, and so we launched 47 00:02:19,584 --> 00:02:22,415 Speaker 2: fragrant services and skincare services, and then all of the 48 00:02:22,415 --> 00:02:25,545 Speaker 2: wild things you see at George Street in the flagship. 49 00:02:25,584 --> 00:02:27,855 Speaker 2: And then what was flagship gonna look like and how 50 00:02:27,855 --> 00:02:29,745 Speaker 2: is that different? And then on to new concepts, which 51 00:02:29,745 --> 00:02:31,224 Speaker 2: was designing the Bourke Street. 52 00:02:31,844 --> 00:02:34,245 Speaker 2: Space and everything that was kind of atypical to product 53 00:02:34,245 --> 00:02:36,844 Speaker 2: on a shelf, and how do you push experience and 54 00:02:37,165 --> 00:02:39,444 Speaker 2: how do you make customers access some or allow them 55 00:02:39,444 --> 00:02:41,965 Speaker 2: to access something they can't easily, and it's all centralized 56 00:02:41,965 --> 00:02:44,685 Speaker 2: in this amazing mecca, which is a great word, obviously 57 00:02:44,685 --> 00:02:45,125 Speaker 2: for the brand. 58 00:02:45,825 --> 00:02:49,064 Speaker 2: So I think the ability for people to evolve in 59 00:02:49,064 --> 00:02:51,304 Speaker 2: the space is super fluid. If you're willing to work 60 00:02:51,304 --> 00:02:54,814 Speaker 2: hard and you've got an idea, there's total autonomy to 61 00:02:54,814 --> 00:02:56,564 Speaker 2: just give it a go. You can write a pitch 62 00:02:56,564 --> 00:02:58,204 Speaker 2: and you can come up with the commercials and say, 63 00:02:58,224 --> 00:02:59,745 Speaker 2: this is what I want to try, and I think 64 00:02:59,745 --> 00:03:01,545 Speaker 2: the business is so open to that. 65 00:03:01,974 --> 00:03:05,054 Speaker 2: So, I've always found as a, they've probably moved that 66 00:03:05,054 --> 00:03:07,495 Speaker 2: far because they've had great people working for them. But 67 00:03:07,495 --> 00:03:09,495 Speaker 2: believed in their stuff, believed in them and gave them 68 00:03:09,495 --> 00:03:11,935 Speaker 2: the space to figure it out, like, new concepts, or 69 00:03:11,935 --> 00:03:13,735 Speaker 2: head of new concepts. That's not a title that, you know, 70 00:03:13,775 --> 00:03:17,135 Speaker 2: you grow up and think, I'm gonna develop new customer experiences. 71 00:03:17,209 --> 00:03:20,319 Speaker 2: I'm gonna be the head of new concepts. I never 72 00:03:20,319 --> 00:03:22,599 Speaker 2: was like, I'm gonna podcast because they didn't exist. Yeah, 73 00:03:22,679 --> 00:03:24,799 Speaker 2: or are you gonna focus on retail experience and what 74 00:03:24,799 --> 00:03:26,679 Speaker 2: does that look like? It's, but it can all, you 75 00:03:26,679 --> 00:03:29,189 Speaker 2: could just evolve and grow as a person within the business. 76 00:03:29,480 --> 00:03:31,519 Speaker 2: And I think, yeah, it's brilliant. There's so many people 77 00:03:31,519 --> 00:03:34,709 Speaker 2: I know that have jumped from product development to marketing 78 00:03:34,709 --> 00:03:37,239 Speaker 2: over to ops. Like it's just totally fluid, and if 79 00:03:37,239 --> 00:03:40,439 Speaker 2: you're willing to work hard, they're so there to support you. 80 00:03:41,114 --> 00:03:45,185 Speaker 2: I think as well, there's so many brilliant women working together. Women, 81 00:03:45,265 --> 00:03:48,545 Speaker 2: when they are together under a roof, like, the best 82 00:03:48,545 --> 00:03:49,694 Speaker 2: jobs I've had. 83 00:03:50,204 --> 00:03:55,004 Speaker 2: Uh, yeah, a bunch of really smart, funny, savvy, collaborative, 84 00:03:55,144 --> 00:03:59,924 Speaker 2: wanting to work hard and just build beautiful friendships as well. It's, yeah, yeah, 85 00:04:00,204 --> 00:04:03,724 Speaker 2: and really care about what doing. That level of quality 86 00:04:03,724 --> 00:04:05,954 Speaker 2: always comes out because women have that attention to detail 87 00:04:05,954 --> 00:04:08,605 Speaker 2: and they, you know, that last bit matters. You don't 88 00:04:08,605 --> 00:04:11,405 Speaker 2: just go, Oh, that's near enough, good enough. to torture 89 00:04:11,405 --> 00:04:15,915 Speaker 2: yourself to get to as close to perfection as possible. Yeah. Yeah, that's, 90 00:04:16,004 --> 00:04:18,594 Speaker 2: it's women make everything so good. 91 00:04:19,525 --> 00:04:22,834 Speaker 2: So you both had front row seats at Mecca, watching 92 00:04:22,834 --> 00:04:26,004 Speaker 2: hundreds of beauty brands either make it or crash and burn. 93 00:04:26,464 --> 00:04:28,825 Speaker 2: What were the telltale signs that a brand was going 94 00:04:28,825 --> 00:04:31,224 Speaker 2: to be a hit or a bit of a flop? 95 00:04:31,464 --> 00:04:32,784 Speaker 2: Bit of a dud, if you will. A bit of 96 00:04:32,784 --> 00:04:35,735 Speaker 2: a dud. Well, fortunately, by the time they get to Mecca, 97 00:04:36,145 --> 00:04:39,944 Speaker 2: there has been a pretty, pretty extensive screening process. So 98 00:04:39,944 --> 00:04:43,325 Speaker 2: not many of the Mecca ones flop, but in saying that, 99 00:04:43,385 --> 00:04:46,504 Speaker 2: I think there's definitely, when you look consistently, I had 100 00:04:46,504 --> 00:04:48,425 Speaker 2: the privilege of working with at one stage, I think 101 00:04:48,425 --> 00:04:52,105 Speaker 2: it was 90 plus skincare brands, and lots of, you know, 102 00:04:52,184 --> 00:04:54,575 Speaker 2: your drunk elephants and glow recipes and 103 00:04:54,985 --> 00:04:58,615 Speaker 2: Pretty much the best skincare beauty brands in the world. 104 00:04:58,865 --> 00:05:01,795 Speaker 2: And definitely, I think there's a consistency around quality of 105 00:05:01,795 --> 00:05:06,474 Speaker 2: ingredients and products that perform and do something for your skin. 106 00:05:06,895 --> 00:05:08,904 Speaker 2: And customers have got so much more savage, I think 107 00:05:08,904 --> 00:05:12,464 Speaker 2: post COVID and understanding skincare and benefits and, 108 00:05:12,874 --> 00:05:15,034 Speaker 2: They expect a lot now from their beauty offer, and 109 00:05:15,034 --> 00:05:20,344 Speaker 2: I think a sensorial experience without necessarily a skincare promise 110 00:05:20,344 --> 00:05:24,115 Speaker 2: or beautiful packaging or a really credible brand story. All 111 00:05:24,115 --> 00:05:26,434 Speaker 2: the layers and all the kind of storytelling needs to 112 00:05:26,434 --> 00:05:28,915 Speaker 2: come together. It's not enough, I don't think, to have 113 00:05:28,915 --> 00:05:31,395 Speaker 2: one element. So we saw pretty consistently, and I think 114 00:05:31,395 --> 00:05:32,795 Speaker 2: Georgie would have seen it in lots of the brands 115 00:05:32,795 --> 00:05:34,795 Speaker 2: that you worked with in new concepts, that 116 00:05:35,515 --> 00:05:37,944 Speaker 2: It's a lot about the storytelling and the layers and 117 00:05:37,944 --> 00:05:40,925 Speaker 2: the reasons why behind things, and then the product obviously 118 00:05:40,925 --> 00:05:43,784 Speaker 2: itself has to perform and deliver if you expect a 119 00:05:43,784 --> 00:05:45,635 Speaker 2: customer to come back and part with their money a 120 00:05:45,635 --> 00:05:47,865 Speaker 2: second time and fall in love with your brand. So 121 00:05:47,865 --> 00:05:51,344 Speaker 2: it's everything, basically. Like a brand could be the best 122 00:05:51,344 --> 00:05:56,355 Speaker 2: product that's ever existed, but if it doesn't have everything else, well, 123 00:05:56,464 --> 00:05:58,344 Speaker 2: it's not gonna really make it and cut through in 124 00:05:58,344 --> 00:06:00,434 Speaker 2: the market. Yeah, I think you also need to 125 00:06:00,925 --> 00:06:03,115 Speaker 2: The why a brand was created. Like, what gap did 126 00:06:03,115 --> 00:06:05,395 Speaker 2: it fill or what customer pain did it solve? Particularly 127 00:06:05,395 --> 00:06:07,714 Speaker 2: like if you think around retail teams, they get so 128 00:06:07,714 --> 00:06:09,835 Speaker 2: much training on all the brands. And so how do 129 00:06:09,835 --> 00:06:12,124 Speaker 2: they remember when a customer comes in what to recommend? 130 00:06:12,555 --> 00:06:15,124 Speaker 2: So the story, all of those layers and strategy have 131 00:06:15,124 --> 00:06:16,515 Speaker 2: to be thought about, then how do you distill it 132 00:06:16,515 --> 00:06:19,805 Speaker 2: into like a two second sentence that you can't recall, like, oh, wow, 133 00:06:19,874 --> 00:06:21,184 Speaker 2: this brand's amazing. Exactly. 134 00:06:22,244 --> 00:06:24,205 Speaker 2: So let's go back to the beginning, you both had 135 00:06:24,205 --> 00:06:27,485 Speaker 2: incredible careers at Mecca. What made you want to walk 136 00:06:27,485 --> 00:06:31,034 Speaker 2: away from those dream jobs to start the brands? 137 00:06:31,684 --> 00:06:36,545 Speaker 2: Maybe we were crazy. I feel like every business owner 138 00:06:36,545 --> 00:06:39,305 Speaker 2: thinks that a lot. And we both loved Mecca. Like, 139 00:06:39,344 --> 00:06:42,385 Speaker 2: I truly adored my time there. If I was ever 140 00:06:42,385 --> 00:06:44,624 Speaker 2: to stay and work for a company, I think that 141 00:06:44,624 --> 00:06:46,825 Speaker 2: the role I had and the team and the environment 142 00:06:46,825 --> 00:06:49,904 Speaker 2: was perfect. Yeah, their staff retention is really good. Like 143 00:06:49,904 --> 00:06:52,214 Speaker 2: everyone I've ever met that works there has been there forever. 144 00:06:52,425 --> 00:06:54,865 Speaker 2: It's an amazing place to work. It's really, yeah. And 145 00:06:54,865 --> 00:06:57,994 Speaker 2: some of like, I initially came from an environment that 146 00:06:58,194 --> 00:07:00,094 Speaker 2: You worked incredibly hard, but you probably didn't form friendships, 147 00:07:00,135 --> 00:07:03,205 Speaker 2: whereas at Mecca, I think you equally met like-minded people. 148 00:07:03,274 --> 00:07:05,934 Speaker 2: They're incredibly creative and they problem solve. It's a big company, 149 00:07:05,974 --> 00:07:08,284 Speaker 2: but it's like a startup, as in, figure it out, 150 00:07:08,415 --> 00:07:11,175 Speaker 2: find a way. It's work hard and play hard. Exactly. 151 00:07:11,254 --> 00:07:14,295 Speaker 2: It's just sensational. So I think wanting to leave was 152 00:07:14,295 --> 00:07:16,694 Speaker 2: something we certainly took our time to consider and really 153 00:07:16,744 --> 00:07:18,654 Speaker 2: Thought about, and we would only have done it to 154 00:07:18,654 --> 00:07:20,575 Speaker 2: create a brand that we had felt had a real 155 00:07:20,575 --> 00:07:23,175 Speaker 2: cut through on it, again, a purpose. Like, no one 156 00:07:23,175 --> 00:07:25,214 Speaker 2: needs another beauty brand for the sake of it. Like, 157 00:07:25,224 --> 00:07:27,374 Speaker 2: what was the gap it was filling and what wasn't 158 00:07:27,374 --> 00:07:29,974 Speaker 2: in market already. And so we really challenged ourselves a 159 00:07:29,974 --> 00:07:31,974 Speaker 2: lot around that space. So the time you bought your 160 00:07:31,974 --> 00:07:35,175 Speaker 2: makeup and your beautiful fragrance and your, you know, amazing skincare, 161 00:07:35,865 --> 00:07:38,564 Speaker 2: You're kind of pretty much out of pocket. And so 162 00:07:38,564 --> 00:07:40,485 Speaker 2: then when it comes to body care, you end up 163 00:07:40,485 --> 00:07:42,684 Speaker 2: sort of back in pharmacy or supermarket for your body 164 00:07:42,684 --> 00:07:45,645 Speaker 2: washes or lotions or kind of big volume products. If 165 00:07:45,645 --> 00:07:47,325 Speaker 2: we got to experience some of the beautiful brands at Mecca, 166 00:07:47,365 --> 00:07:49,254 Speaker 2: we loved them. But, you know, it might be a 167 00:07:49,254 --> 00:07:52,485 Speaker 2: 250 mL bottle for $40 and you see your husband 168 00:07:52,485 --> 00:07:55,765 Speaker 2: use it half, and you're like, no, no, we're like. 169 00:07:56,555 --> 00:07:59,455 Speaker 2: And then also, working really big careers at Mecca and 170 00:07:59,455 --> 00:08:01,284 Speaker 2: having little children, you have no time. So you're not 171 00:08:01,284 --> 00:08:02,955 Speaker 2: going to the spa, you're not taking care of yourself, 172 00:08:02,964 --> 00:08:04,365 Speaker 2: and you're certainly not putting yourself forward. 173 00:08:05,015 --> 00:08:09,024 Speaker 2: But really beautiful body care makes you feel amazing, so 174 00:08:09,024 --> 00:08:10,665 Speaker 2: we kind of put those elements together and went, well 175 00:08:10,665 --> 00:08:13,194 Speaker 2: how do we get this feeling of these beautiful brands 176 00:08:13,194 --> 00:08:14,515 Speaker 2: and experiences we get at Mecca. 177 00:08:14,784 --> 00:08:18,925 Speaker 2: But make it accessible for everybody every day, because it's 178 00:08:18,925 --> 00:08:20,555 Speaker 2: something that we loved and we got a snippet of, 179 00:08:20,564 --> 00:08:22,564 Speaker 2: but we wanted more. You know, we want to be 180 00:08:22,564 --> 00:08:25,485 Speaker 2: able to have a full 50 mL bottle or a 181 00:08:25,485 --> 00:08:27,605 Speaker 2: 750 mL bottle, depending on the brand, and your whole 182 00:08:27,605 --> 00:08:29,004 Speaker 2: family can use it, and you know, it's clean and 183 00:08:29,004 --> 00:08:31,645 Speaker 2: safe and everyone enjoy that experience rather than going, Oh no, 184 00:08:31,684 --> 00:08:36,165 Speaker 2: that's mine, that's yours. Don't touch it. Yeah. Who used 185 00:08:36,165 --> 00:08:38,844 Speaker 2: it all. So yes, we felt body care was really 186 00:08:38,844 --> 00:08:39,165 Speaker 2: a space. 187 00:08:39,265 --> 00:08:43,214 Speaker 2: That felt underdeveloped and underconsidered, very much from an accessible 188 00:08:43,214 --> 00:08:46,125 Speaker 2: price point. And that beautiful packaging that still looks like 189 00:08:46,125 --> 00:08:50,134 Speaker 2: it's really expensive. Camille, the name Bronte has such a 190 00:08:50,134 --> 00:08:54,094 Speaker 2: beautiful story. It's connected to your great grandma. How important 191 00:08:54,094 --> 00:08:57,565 Speaker 2: was it to have that personal connection to your first brand? 192 00:08:57,815 --> 00:09:00,805 Speaker 2: You might make me cry. Um, I always get super 193 00:09:00,805 --> 00:09:03,615 Speaker 2: emotional when I, when we talk very close to my grandma, so. 194 00:09:04,034 --> 00:09:06,735 Speaker 2: OK, well, look, I'll try and keep it together, but no, we, um, 195 00:09:07,055 --> 00:09:09,574 Speaker 2: we spent so long ideating, and we had lots of 196 00:09:09,574 --> 00:09:12,074 Speaker 2: different name options and we were going back and forth 197 00:09:12,074 --> 00:09:14,295 Speaker 2: and back and forth, and we had some criteria, we 198 00:09:14,295 --> 00:09:15,255 Speaker 2: wanted something that, 199 00:09:15,724 --> 00:09:19,195 Speaker 2: Was quintessentially Australian, that really showcased the very best that 200 00:09:19,195 --> 00:09:22,445 Speaker 2: Australia has to offer, which we hope that the brand portrays, 201 00:09:22,464 --> 00:09:25,125 Speaker 2: and when you think around those layers and storytelling. We 202 00:09:25,125 --> 00:09:27,125 Speaker 2: wanted something meaningful to us. I think like you said, 203 00:09:27,204 --> 00:09:30,485 Speaker 2: we've left our careers, trying to inspire our kids and 204 00:09:30,485 --> 00:09:33,445 Speaker 2: hopefully leaving a legacy. Um, so we wanted something that 205 00:09:33,445 --> 00:09:36,654 Speaker 2: felt personal. And then it was actually Georgie. So, Georgie 206 00:09:36,654 --> 00:09:39,315 Speaker 2: knows how much myonda means to me. She's 99, an 207 00:09:39,315 --> 00:09:40,324 Speaker 2: Italian migrant. 208 00:09:40,740 --> 00:09:43,740 Speaker 2: She kind of moved to Australia with nothing, survived Second 209 00:09:43,740 --> 00:09:47,380 Speaker 2: World War, migrated here, and obviously started from scratch. And 210 00:09:47,380 --> 00:09:50,699 Speaker 2: the fact that she's still alive today, she's healthy, he's 211 00:09:50,699 --> 00:09:53,940 Speaker 2: living on her own at night. She's just incredible, and 212 00:09:53,940 --> 00:09:57,490 Speaker 2: she's so with it. She's so with it. She's got 213 00:09:57,490 --> 00:09:59,980 Speaker 2: so much personality. Like if any of us have ever 214 00:09:59,980 --> 00:10:01,810 Speaker 2: been stuck, we go to her, she's got all this 215 00:10:01,810 --> 00:10:04,459 Speaker 2: wisdom and she's just incredible. So Georgie knows how much 216 00:10:04,459 --> 00:10:05,219 Speaker 2: she means to me. 217 00:10:05,464 --> 00:10:07,415 Speaker 2: And so Georgia was like, Why don't we go with Bronte? 218 00:10:07,485 --> 00:10:10,534 Speaker 2: Bronte's Menonna was born in Italy, a tiny town at 219 00:10:10,534 --> 00:10:13,495 Speaker 2: the base of Mount Etna. And I've pulled my daughter, 220 00:10:13,574 --> 00:10:16,094 Speaker 2: whose first name is Mila, but her second name is Bronte. 221 00:10:16,134 --> 00:10:18,534 Speaker 2: It's a bit of an ode to Nonna. So Georgia 222 00:10:18,534 --> 00:10:21,055 Speaker 2: was like, That's perfect. And I think we just instantly 223 00:10:21,055 --> 00:10:23,964 Speaker 2: both went, That's it. You've obviously got the beautiful Bronte Beach. 224 00:10:24,334 --> 00:10:27,214 Speaker 2: It is quintessentially Australian. It's a short form name that 225 00:10:27,214 --> 00:10:28,534 Speaker 2: sounds as you. 226 00:10:29,315 --> 00:10:32,315 Speaker 2: Pronounce it. It sounds, we wanted something that wasn't tricky 227 00:10:32,315 --> 00:10:35,594 Speaker 2: and that, you know, wouldn't trip customers up. And then obviously, yes, 228 00:10:35,755 --> 00:10:37,954 Speaker 2: very grateful that we landed on that name because it 229 00:10:37,954 --> 00:10:40,755 Speaker 2: means from a legacy standpoint, and it must mean a 230 00:10:40,755 --> 00:10:45,034 Speaker 2: lot to your no. It does, it does. However, she 231 00:10:45,034 --> 00:10:47,634 Speaker 2: is so savvy. So obviously, we told her that we 232 00:10:47,634 --> 00:10:50,315 Speaker 2: were gonna name the brand Bronte, and she was thrilled. 233 00:10:50,435 --> 00:10:52,074 Speaker 2: Then we asked her to do a photo shoot. 234 00:10:52,675 --> 00:10:54,915 Speaker 2: And she said to me, which I haven't held up 235 00:10:54,915 --> 00:10:56,555 Speaker 2: my end of the bargain, so I'm in a bit 236 00:10:56,555 --> 00:10:58,755 Speaker 2: of trouble at the moment. But she said, I'll do 237 00:10:58,755 --> 00:11:01,795 Speaker 2: this photoshoot for you if you get married or baptize 238 00:11:01,795 --> 00:11:03,945 Speaker 2: your kids and you have to pick which one. Italian 239 00:11:03,945 --> 00:11:07,545 Speaker 2: Catholic Italian. That is classic Italian. That is incredible. Which 240 00:11:07,545 --> 00:11:10,605 Speaker 2: one did you decide on? Well, no, neither at this point. 241 00:11:10,875 --> 00:11:12,654 Speaker 2: Neither at this point, but I said to Georgie, I'd 242 00:11:12,654 --> 00:11:14,274 Speaker 2: be great, we could do another shoot with Nonna, and 243 00:11:14,274 --> 00:11:14,594 Speaker 2: then I said, 244 00:11:14,711 --> 00:11:17,531 Speaker 2: I think I'm gonna have to at least get married 245 00:11:17,531 --> 00:11:20,281 Speaker 2: or baptize the kids. But she was unbelievable, so we 246 00:11:20,281 --> 00:11:21,381 Speaker 2: shot her. I don't know if you've seen any of 247 00:11:21,381 --> 00:11:23,980 Speaker 2: the I I I didn't realize it was. It was actually. 248 00:11:24,341 --> 00:11:26,620 Speaker 2: So we took her down to Elwood Beach. Obviously, we'd 249 00:11:26,620 --> 00:11:27,761 Speaker 2: love to get her to Bronte, but that might be 250 00:11:27,761 --> 00:11:30,961 Speaker 2: a stretch. But she, for her age, she wanted no fuss. Like, 251 00:11:31,060 --> 00:11:34,620 Speaker 2: don't fuss over me. I'll stand here. Yeah, and we 252 00:11:34,620 --> 00:11:36,821 Speaker 2: had all different props and I had different styling. 253 00:11:36,896 --> 00:11:39,367 Speaker 2: Options. It was so funny. We had all different colored glasses, 254 00:11:39,407 --> 00:11:42,006 Speaker 2: but there was this massive pair of white Pradas. And 255 00:11:42,006 --> 00:11:44,316 Speaker 2: obviously being Italian, she was like, Prada's Pratt, like, just, 256 00:11:44,326 --> 00:11:46,006 Speaker 2: and she wouldn't take them off. Loved them. And so 257 00:11:46,006 --> 00:11:48,086 Speaker 2: the whole day we're like, OK, I'll just leave you 258 00:11:48,086 --> 00:11:49,967 Speaker 2: in there. Leave you in those. And we're like, the 259 00:11:49,967 --> 00:11:52,967 Speaker 2: day that we fabulous Bronte, we're gonna go back and 260 00:11:52,967 --> 00:11:55,756 Speaker 2: buy her the glasses. I think, yeah, she was unbelievable. 261 00:11:56,206 --> 00:11:58,086 Speaker 2: Just makes for such, and all our imagery in Bronte, 262 00:11:58,167 --> 00:11:58,967 Speaker 2: we want it to feel. 263 00:11:59,425 --> 00:12:02,584 Speaker 2: Nostalgic, the brand's designed for millennials, whether it's a shot of, 264 00:12:02,625 --> 00:12:05,985 Speaker 2: you know, uh, elderly gentleman at the beach, or really 265 00:12:05,985 --> 00:12:08,945 Speaker 2: fresh waves or none, that you look at our branding 266 00:12:08,945 --> 00:12:10,824 Speaker 2: and imagery and feel like it's got a connection to 267 00:12:10,824 --> 00:12:13,704 Speaker 2: you and your childhood or something you enjoyed that you 268 00:12:13,704 --> 00:12:15,865 Speaker 2: grew up with. So having her was super special. That 269 00:12:15,865 --> 00:12:19,425 Speaker 2: is so special. I might need to get married. Yeah. 270 00:12:19,714 --> 00:12:20,665 Speaker 2: Do it, do it for her. 271 00:12:21,195 --> 00:12:24,985 Speaker 2: I unfortunately waited till dementia had hit in to have 272 00:12:24,985 --> 00:12:28,185 Speaker 2: the baby that mine was so desperate for me to have, 273 00:12:28,264 --> 00:12:30,425 Speaker 2: but she was also desperate for me to get married, 274 00:12:30,435 --> 00:12:33,295 Speaker 2: and I did that while she was still of sound mind. 275 00:12:33,425 --> 00:12:38,904 Speaker 2: So I've got, I'm like really happy. I know. We 276 00:12:38,904 --> 00:12:42,024 Speaker 2: might need to do a rush wedding at the registry, 277 00:12:42,105 --> 00:12:44,584 Speaker 2: but mine was actually similar. My, we did 3 years 278 00:12:44,584 --> 00:12:46,745 Speaker 2: of IVF and tried incredibly hard to have a baby. 279 00:12:47,344 --> 00:12:50,634 Speaker 2: And then my, yeah, Nana was incred like very much 280 00:12:50,634 --> 00:12:52,084 Speaker 2: toward the end of her life, and sort of was 281 00:12:52,084 --> 00:12:54,724 Speaker 2: in and out of consciousness. But I told her when 282 00:12:54,724 --> 00:12:56,524 Speaker 2: I was like, I got my first positive test at 283 00:12:56,524 --> 00:12:58,644 Speaker 2: like 6 weeks, and I hadn't told my family, I 284 00:12:58,644 --> 00:13:01,084 Speaker 2: was waiting for Christmas. And it was like she just 285 00:13:01,084 --> 00:13:03,605 Speaker 2: had this amazing moment that she was totally lucid and 286 00:13:03,605 --> 00:13:04,935 Speaker 2: she just understood it and, 287 00:13:05,445 --> 00:13:08,084 Speaker 2: Knew it, um, and then when I got now I'm going. 288 00:13:10,995 --> 00:13:12,784 Speaker 2: And so she, she didn't tell my mom, and then 289 00:13:12,784 --> 00:13:15,305 Speaker 2: just before Christmas, she was like, How's Georgie feeling? And 290 00:13:15,305 --> 00:13:17,105 Speaker 2: my mom was like, So what, what are you talking about? 291 00:13:17,264 --> 00:13:19,464 Speaker 2: And she, again, kind of came back to and didn't 292 00:13:19,464 --> 00:13:21,584 Speaker 2: say anymore. And then I had my son and she 293 00:13:21,584 --> 00:13:22,615 Speaker 2: passed away two weeks later. 294 00:13:23,724 --> 00:13:26,634 Speaker 2: Oh my God. So did she get to meet him? No, 295 00:13:26,915 --> 00:13:28,824 Speaker 2: she was in a different state, but I got to, again, 296 00:13:29,115 --> 00:13:31,675 Speaker 2: she was so in and out of consciousness, but she 297 00:13:31,675 --> 00:13:34,315 Speaker 2: came to in the conversation when I got to say 298 00:13:34,315 --> 00:13:38,235 Speaker 2: I've had him and he's here, so she knew. Oh 299 00:13:38,235 --> 00:13:40,755 Speaker 2: my God, that is so special. Do you know how 300 00:13:40,755 --> 00:13:42,574 Speaker 2: nice it is to chat to people that love their 301 00:13:42,574 --> 00:13:44,524 Speaker 2: grandmas as much as me like we're all. 302 00:13:48,714 --> 00:13:51,534 Speaker 2: But how are really strong women in your life, and 303 00:13:51,534 --> 00:13:53,875 Speaker 2: that's what we wanted in the brand. There's so many 304 00:13:53,875 --> 00:13:56,634 Speaker 2: brands now that are designed for Gen Z's and they're 305 00:13:56,634 --> 00:13:58,675 Speaker 2: pastels and they're bright, and with Bronte, we just wanted 306 00:13:58,675 --> 00:14:01,995 Speaker 2: something that really spoke to millennials and felt authentic and 307 00:14:01,995 --> 00:14:05,315 Speaker 2: real and beautiful and that, yeah, you get to tell 308 00:14:05,315 --> 00:14:07,505 Speaker 2: all of these stories and have a real moment that, 309 00:14:07,514 --> 00:14:09,154 Speaker 2: because I think millennials so often, you know, we've gone 310 00:14:09,154 --> 00:14:10,834 Speaker 2: through careers and had children, we're at a point now 311 00:14:10,834 --> 00:14:11,464 Speaker 2: that we're like, what. 312 00:14:12,224 --> 00:14:14,334 Speaker 2: Like what, who are we and what are we doing 313 00:14:14,334 --> 00:14:18,065 Speaker 2: and all of those memories so much. And yeah, having 314 00:14:18,065 --> 00:14:19,745 Speaker 2: those moments where you have someone that you connect on 315 00:14:19,745 --> 00:14:21,685 Speaker 2: a childhood or a memory of a grandma, you're like, oh, 316 00:14:21,985 --> 00:14:25,214 Speaker 2: that's right, it was phone free and yeah. 317 00:14:29,894 --> 00:14:33,134 Speaker 2: So after the success of Bronte, you launched Soma, and 318 00:14:33,134 --> 00:14:35,764 Speaker 2: what made you think, we need another brand. Was it 319 00:14:35,764 --> 00:14:38,855 Speaker 2: always the plan to have the two? Oh, it definitely 320 00:14:38,855 --> 00:14:43,055 Speaker 2: wasn't the plan to have 2, but equally, I think, 321 00:14:43,094 --> 00:14:47,505 Speaker 2: from a strategy standpoint, where we'd landed with Bronte, we put, 322 00:14:47,654 --> 00:14:49,615 Speaker 2: I think being our first one, it was such a 323 00:14:49,615 --> 00:14:51,894 Speaker 2: labor of love, and we put so much time and 324 00:14:51,894 --> 00:14:53,925 Speaker 2: energy into all of the details and all of these 325 00:14:53,925 --> 00:14:56,534 Speaker 2: layers and storytelling and ingredients and packaging. 326 00:14:56,894 --> 00:15:01,034 Speaker 2: And it got more premium than I think we anticipated 327 00:15:01,305 --> 00:15:05,125 Speaker 2: in terms of the quality of componentry, the ingredients, the 328 00:15:05,125 --> 00:15:08,065 Speaker 2: active skincare. I think coming from Mecca and being in 329 00:15:08,065 --> 00:15:11,305 Speaker 2: that skincare role, I got a little bit personally kind 330 00:15:11,305 --> 00:15:14,144 Speaker 2: of fixated on products that do what they say they're 331 00:15:14,144 --> 00:15:18,264 Speaker 2: gonna do and found a passion within skincare for more 332 00:15:18,264 --> 00:15:20,425 Speaker 2: of your erm-led brands or your brands that had kind 333 00:15:20,425 --> 00:15:22,105 Speaker 2: of active ingredients and 334 00:15:22,685 --> 00:15:24,784 Speaker 2: I could tell we're going to do something and have 335 00:15:24,784 --> 00:15:26,964 Speaker 2: a benefit, and felt like you were getting value for 336 00:15:26,964 --> 00:15:29,384 Speaker 2: your money. And so I think as we developed Bronte 337 00:15:29,384 --> 00:15:32,144 Speaker 2: and Formula, we had so much to learn, and we 338 00:15:32,144 --> 00:15:34,464 Speaker 2: had quite onerous clauses leaving Mecca. So we did a 339 00:15:34,464 --> 00:15:37,065 Speaker 2: lot of desktop research. And then by the time we 340 00:15:37,065 --> 00:15:38,935 Speaker 2: got out into the market and were able to talk 341 00:15:38,935 --> 00:15:42,704 Speaker 2: to manufacturers and chemists and start the actual development, we 342 00:15:42,704 --> 00:15:45,105 Speaker 2: thought about it so much and wanted to develop this 343 00:15:45,105 --> 00:15:48,315 Speaker 2: beautiful brand. But it also meant that it probably wasn't. 344 00:15:48,745 --> 00:15:52,094 Speaker 2: As excessively priced as we had anticipated it would be. 345 00:15:52,224 --> 00:15:55,894 Speaker 2: We're still very passionate about accessible pricing and it's not, 346 00:15:57,784 --> 00:16:00,065 Speaker 2: it's not. It's, it's definitely not mecca prices, but we 347 00:16:00,065 --> 00:16:02,144 Speaker 2: actually then still felt like, hang on a second, we've 348 00:16:02,144 --> 00:16:04,384 Speaker 2: sold for, we've definitely sold for a gap and we're 349 00:16:04,384 --> 00:16:08,945 Speaker 2: giving a beautiful, efficacious product at a reasonable price. But 350 00:16:08,945 --> 00:16:11,505 Speaker 2: it's still left this space for grocery, and I think 351 00:16:11,505 --> 00:16:14,795 Speaker 2: Georgie articulates it the best, but just this wanting more 352 00:16:14,795 --> 00:16:15,904 Speaker 2: from the grocery offer. 353 00:16:16,445 --> 00:16:20,274 Speaker 2: Yeah. So I think with, initially our idea started around grocery, 354 00:16:20,394 --> 00:16:22,474 Speaker 2: cause as I said, we would work at Mecca, have 355 00:16:22,474 --> 00:16:24,235 Speaker 2: all these beautiful products, but then, you know, we'd be 356 00:16:24,235 --> 00:16:26,524 Speaker 2: realistically shopping at 9 at night before the world of 357 00:16:26,524 --> 00:16:29,055 Speaker 2: Click and Collect with our kids and like, what do 358 00:16:29,055 --> 00:16:31,074 Speaker 2: we need and what's available, and you're looking at like 359 00:16:31,074 --> 00:16:33,625 Speaker 2: this tiny selection, and it just felt like nothing was 360 00:16:33,954 --> 00:16:36,274 Speaker 2: kind of hit the mark. It felt, you know, very 361 00:16:36,274 --> 00:16:39,435 Speaker 2: maintenance Monday daily essentials, and we had that crave to 362 00:16:39,435 --> 00:16:42,274 Speaker 2: want more. So that's where the idea started. But as 363 00:16:42,274 --> 00:16:42,824 Speaker 2: Camille said, 364 00:16:43,375 --> 00:16:47,134 Speaker 2: We, we do love a premium experience and sense, we 365 00:16:47,134 --> 00:16:49,574 Speaker 2: got incredibly, I think we were so passionate about the 366 00:16:49,574 --> 00:16:53,295 Speaker 2: poor and the lather and all of these elements that 367 00:16:53,295 --> 00:16:55,094 Speaker 2: our chemist, I think, was ready to shoot us because 368 00:16:55,094 --> 00:16:56,094 Speaker 2: on top of it, we were like, and we want 369 00:16:56,094 --> 00:16:57,974 Speaker 2: it to be clean, and we meet credo clean beauty standards. 370 00:16:58,014 --> 00:17:00,365 Speaker 2: And so all of those elements made, 371 00:17:00,904 --> 00:17:03,784 Speaker 2: Grocery a bit trickier. But as Camille said, we were 372 00:17:03,784 --> 00:17:07,904 Speaker 2: learning so much. And so, in getting Bronte to its 373 00:17:07,904 --> 00:17:11,384 Speaker 2: beautiful place, we found this very interesting space and trend 374 00:17:11,384 --> 00:17:14,854 Speaker 2: we think happening in beauty. There's prestige, and then there's grocery. 375 00:17:15,104 --> 00:17:15,654 Speaker 2: But actually a lot of 376 00:17:15,700 --> 00:17:17,729 Speaker 2: people like, what is in the middle? You know, what 377 00:17:17,729 --> 00:17:20,859 Speaker 2: if I want more, but I can't quite get to there, like, 378 00:17:20,889 --> 00:17:23,690 Speaker 2: what does that look like? And so there's interesting offers 379 00:17:23,690 --> 00:17:26,540 Speaker 2: from a retail perspective, like Atomica and I see a 380 00:17:26,540 --> 00:17:29,690 Speaker 2: door and change Atomica. I went to the Melbourne store 381 00:17:29,690 --> 00:17:30,570 Speaker 2: and I was like, 382 00:17:31,445 --> 00:17:34,845 Speaker 2: This is everything that is missing in the market, like 383 00:17:34,845 --> 00:17:38,404 Speaker 2: in store, retail. And great brands like Ordinary, and then 384 00:17:38,404 --> 00:17:40,325 Speaker 2: you've got like LaRoche, but then you've got, you know, 385 00:17:40,725 --> 00:17:43,715 Speaker 2: interesting Australian founded brands. And so we were like, actually, 386 00:17:43,884 --> 00:17:45,805 Speaker 2: it makes a lot of sense if we want Bronte 387 00:17:45,805 --> 00:17:49,644 Speaker 2: to be accessible, if it's the fatigued mom millennial, she's 388 00:17:49,644 --> 00:17:52,644 Speaker 2: probably gonna grab it at 9 at night, Priceline, Atomico, 389 00:17:52,845 --> 00:17:54,894 Speaker 2: wherever it might be open, or does she want a 390 00:17:54,894 --> 00:17:58,144 Speaker 2: prestige experience in a department store. And so we're like, actually, 391 00:17:58,154 --> 00:17:59,874 Speaker 2: there's this interesting landscape for Bronte. 392 00:18:00,514 --> 00:18:02,815 Speaker 2: But there was still a gap in grocery. And so 393 00:18:03,024 --> 00:18:07,065 Speaker 2: when the opportunity came to co-create with Woolworths, it wasn't, 394 00:18:07,225 --> 00:18:09,374 Speaker 2: we certainly didn't have the capacity. We didn't have a team, 395 00:18:09,984 --> 00:18:12,415 Speaker 2: but we couldn't say no. Like we were like, Oh, 396 00:18:12,585 --> 00:18:14,984 Speaker 2: we definitely feel passionate. We've certainly thought about this space. 397 00:18:15,065 --> 00:18:17,065 Speaker 2: We've done all the strategic. You know the customers there. 398 00:18:17,225 --> 00:18:19,144 Speaker 2: We know the customers there, but yeah, how do we 399 00:18:19,144 --> 00:18:22,864 Speaker 2: do a version that commercially can work? And so once 400 00:18:22,864 --> 00:18:26,624 Speaker 2: we kind of had unlocked that piece, which obviously volume helps. 401 00:18:27,095 --> 00:18:28,975 Speaker 2: It meant that we just sort of ran it both 402 00:18:28,975 --> 00:18:31,295 Speaker 2: as quickly as we could. So year one, obviously, we 403 00:18:31,295 --> 00:18:33,175 Speaker 2: have So and Woolworths, and by the end of the year, 404 00:18:33,254 --> 00:18:36,254 Speaker 2: Bronte will have found its home in a few retailers. Oh, 405 00:18:36,335 --> 00:18:39,295 Speaker 2: that's so exciting. Just a product of not being able 406 00:18:39,295 --> 00:18:43,894 Speaker 2: to say no. Yeah. Bronte is positioned as bringing skincare 407 00:18:43,894 --> 00:18:45,644 Speaker 2: level actives to body care. 408 00:18:46,675 --> 00:18:51,955 Speaker 2: While Soma focuses on that luxury fragrance experience at supermarket prices, 409 00:18:52,034 --> 00:18:55,075 Speaker 2: so how do you differentiate between your two brands without 410 00:18:55,075 --> 00:18:58,644 Speaker 2: cannibalizing each other? Yeah, I think it comes back to 411 00:18:58,945 --> 00:19:02,835 Speaker 2: exactly that. There's different trends in market and different customers 412 00:19:02,835 --> 00:19:07,225 Speaker 2: that have different kind of likes, demands, wants, expectations, and 413 00:19:07,225 --> 00:19:07,734 Speaker 2: I think 414 00:19:08,575 --> 00:19:13,734 Speaker 2: Both, fortunately for us, skincare and skinification, so skinification tends 415 00:19:13,734 --> 00:19:17,175 Speaker 2: to mean, yeah, taking skincare ingredients and applying them to 416 00:19:17,175 --> 00:19:20,734 Speaker 2: other categories and other products that they weren't necessarily in before. 417 00:19:20,815 --> 00:19:22,854 Speaker 2: So if you think about hair care, there's been this 418 00:19:22,854 --> 00:19:27,175 Speaker 2: skinification of hair care, scalp care, people taking skincare actives 419 00:19:27,175 --> 00:19:29,374 Speaker 2: and putting them in hair care now. And it's not 420 00:19:29,374 --> 00:19:30,904 Speaker 2: dissimilar to body. People expect 421 00:19:31,144 --> 00:19:35,065 Speaker 2: More from their products. Um, but then equally, there's this 422 00:19:35,065 --> 00:19:38,254 Speaker 2: trend around fragrance, and fragrance is having such a moment. 423 00:19:38,345 --> 00:19:41,305 Speaker 2: And I think fragrance at all levels, people buying into 424 00:19:41,305 --> 00:19:44,374 Speaker 2: super prestige offers and wanting to spend or being comfortable 425 00:19:44,374 --> 00:19:47,585 Speaker 2: enough to spend the, the $540 for their baccarat, and, 426 00:19:47,744 --> 00:19:50,305 Speaker 2: you know, savoring this moment and saving up and buying 427 00:19:50,305 --> 00:19:53,585 Speaker 2: into luxury perfumes. But that trend has flown all the way. 428 00:19:53,685 --> 00:19:57,134 Speaker 2: Through now into supermarkets where people saying, Hey, I actually 429 00:19:57,134 --> 00:20:00,274 Speaker 2: really love a fragranced experience, and fragrance isn't taboo. And 430 00:20:00,274 --> 00:20:03,114 Speaker 2: if you work really hard to make clean fragrances that 431 00:20:03,114 --> 00:20:05,315 Speaker 2: don't have phthalates in them and nitro masks, and if 432 00:20:05,315 --> 00:20:08,114 Speaker 2: you can kind of clean up the process, which I 433 00:20:08,114 --> 00:20:10,274 Speaker 2: think fragrance had come under a little bit of scrutiny 434 00:20:10,274 --> 00:20:12,675 Speaker 2: for a time there around what was in fragrance, and 435 00:20:12,675 --> 00:20:15,475 Speaker 2: still is in some fragrances, and there's some hormone disruptors 436 00:20:15,475 --> 00:20:16,374 Speaker 2: and things that 437 00:20:16,795 --> 00:20:19,335 Speaker 2: If you're not particularly knowledgeable in space, you might end 438 00:20:19,335 --> 00:20:21,734 Speaker 2: up picking up. But I think people are a lot 439 00:20:21,734 --> 00:20:24,534 Speaker 2: more receptive at the moment to fragrance and all sorts 440 00:20:24,534 --> 00:20:27,534 Speaker 2: of fragrance. And so fragrances though. No one wants to 441 00:20:27,534 --> 00:20:33,614 Speaker 2: go into supermarkets. No, the lemon myrtles are cheaper people 442 00:20:33,614 --> 00:20:35,565 Speaker 2: tell me that they don't like lavender, I'm like, it's 443 00:20:35,565 --> 00:20:38,894 Speaker 2: because you've smelt like the budget lavender. I love lavender. 444 00:20:39,427 --> 00:20:44,077 Speaker 2: When lavender is done well, watch, watch this space because 445 00:20:44,077 --> 00:20:48,717 Speaker 2: we would love to do lavender well that's um but 446 00:20:48,717 --> 00:20:51,898 Speaker 2: I think that's the biggest difference. It's, yeah, Saa is 447 00:20:51,898 --> 00:20:57,158 Speaker 2: this beautiful, fragranced experience. It's accessible, it's easy. It's not 448 00:20:57,158 --> 00:21:00,118 Speaker 2: promising the world in terms of skincare actives and that 449 00:21:00,118 --> 00:21:01,118 Speaker 2: it's gonna transform you. 450 00:21:01,341 --> 00:21:04,251 Speaker 2: Skin, it's super hydrating. It's got some niceinamide in it. 451 00:21:04,260 --> 00:21:07,101 Speaker 2: It's got aloe. It does have beautiful ingredients, but really 452 00:21:07,101 --> 00:21:11,140 Speaker 2: the experience is about the packaging, the aesthetic, the elevation 453 00:21:11,140 --> 00:21:14,910 Speaker 2: of your bathrooms, and then the sensorial experience of the product. 454 00:21:15,221 --> 00:21:18,380 Speaker 2: Whereas Bronte will, and even more so when we look 455 00:21:18,380 --> 00:21:21,020 Speaker 2: at the NPD that we've got coming, help you treat 456 00:21:21,020 --> 00:21:23,371 Speaker 2: different concerns, change. 457 00:21:24,014 --> 00:21:26,695 Speaker 2: You know, the feel or the color or the texture 458 00:21:26,695 --> 00:21:30,205 Speaker 2: of your skin through either tools or ingredients, which we love, 459 00:21:30,534 --> 00:21:34,774 Speaker 2: especially coming into summer. Yes. So hopefully, yeah, customers can 460 00:21:34,774 --> 00:21:38,925 Speaker 2: see the difference. And actually, I think as well, retail strategy, 461 00:21:39,055 --> 00:21:41,854 Speaker 2: they won't be sitting side by side, and we've hopefully 462 00:21:41,854 --> 00:21:44,254 Speaker 2: found them both at homes that really make sense for 463 00:21:44,254 --> 00:21:47,774 Speaker 2: where the customer's shopping. Different customer needs a different brand. 464 00:21:53,915 --> 00:21:57,504 Speaker 2: I've got a juicy question for you. As Mecca insiders, 465 00:21:57,634 --> 00:22:00,514 Speaker 2: what are the cult products customers ask for all the 466 00:22:00,514 --> 00:22:03,644 Speaker 2: time that are genuinely worth the hype, and what are 467 00:22:03,644 --> 00:22:05,994 Speaker 2: some overhyped products that make you go oh. 468 00:22:07,665 --> 00:22:12,075 Speaker 2: Well, I, I can, I'll take 2. I've got, so 469 00:22:12,075 --> 00:22:15,585 Speaker 2: there's this one brand that is a little known French brand, 470 00:22:15,715 --> 00:22:18,435 Speaker 2: a love brand of so many of the Mecca team members, 471 00:22:18,475 --> 00:22:21,274 Speaker 2: and it punches, I think, well above its weight in 472 00:22:21,274 --> 00:22:24,315 Speaker 2: terms of sales versus probably the brand awareness. The brand 473 00:22:24,315 --> 00:22:29,404 Speaker 2: is Cosmetics 27, and the founder is an incredible French woman, 474 00:22:29,475 --> 00:22:30,404 Speaker 2: her name's Michelle. 475 00:22:30,705 --> 00:22:33,325 Speaker 2: Uh, she actually worked at L'Oreal at one point in time, 476 00:22:33,445 --> 00:22:36,404 Speaker 2: and she's a chemist and had an injury and then 477 00:22:36,404 --> 00:22:38,634 Speaker 2: went and couldn't kind of heal her skin from a, 478 00:22:38,644 --> 00:22:42,874 Speaker 2: a skiing injury. And so she developed a product with, um, 479 00:22:43,124 --> 00:22:46,315 Speaker 2: particular ingredients that are well known for the healing properties. 480 00:22:46,644 --> 00:22:49,764 Speaker 2: And then she created this product called Balm 27. And 481 00:22:49,764 --> 00:22:54,764 Speaker 2: it is this decadent, beautiful moisturizer straight to Mecca to 482 00:22:54,764 --> 00:22:56,925 Speaker 2: for your face, but obviously you could use it on 483 00:22:56,925 --> 00:22:59,805 Speaker 2: your body, but it's an incredible, quite a rich. 484 00:23:00,384 --> 00:23:01,665 Speaker 2: Thick moisturizer. 485 00:23:02,725 --> 00:23:06,075 Speaker 2: And it is divine. And once you use it, unfortunately, 486 00:23:06,154 --> 00:23:09,734 Speaker 2: you will probably not be able to not use it. Uh, 487 00:23:09,795 --> 00:23:12,264 Speaker 2: she's since gone on and created, there's a rich cream 488 00:23:12,264 --> 00:23:15,595 Speaker 2: and an everyday. Um, and the product is incredible. So 489 00:23:15,595 --> 00:23:17,805 Speaker 2: that is the one that if you haven't bought Balm 490 00:23:17,805 --> 00:23:21,345 Speaker 2: 27 from Cosmetics 27, you absolutely should. It is worth 491 00:23:21,345 --> 00:23:23,234 Speaker 2: the money. I think it's about. 492 00:23:23,524 --> 00:23:32,514 Speaker 2: 220 2. It hurts greatly and we certainly, as we said, 493 00:23:32,624 --> 00:23:34,384 Speaker 2: all of our time and energy and funds are going 494 00:23:34,384 --> 00:23:36,254 Speaker 2: to our businesses. We do not have the cash, but 495 00:23:36,465 --> 00:23:38,665 Speaker 2: that's the one thing that when you go without it 496 00:23:38,665 --> 00:23:40,475 Speaker 2: for long enough, you're like, I just, I need it. 497 00:23:40,705 --> 00:23:42,904 Speaker 2: My partner's 9 years older than me and partner, because 498 00:23:42,904 --> 00:23:46,984 Speaker 2: I haven't got married yet. But, um, he, no, no pressure, Sean, 499 00:23:47,065 --> 00:23:51,784 Speaker 2: but he used Balm and used it every day. 500 00:23:52,144 --> 00:23:54,904 Speaker 2: And then, what does he think? Well, I know, well like, well, 501 00:23:54,965 --> 00:23:56,915 Speaker 2: this is when I had my discount. And then when 502 00:23:56,915 --> 00:23:58,845 Speaker 2: I finished, I was like, well, we're starting a business, 503 00:23:58,925 --> 00:24:00,774 Speaker 2: you can't have your balm anymore. And so he stopped 504 00:24:00,774 --> 00:24:03,124 Speaker 2: and it was so funny because we had photo in 505 00:24:03,124 --> 00:24:05,484 Speaker 2: my phone of when he was using his balm all 506 00:24:05,484 --> 00:24:07,845 Speaker 2: the time, and then when he'd stopped, and there's a, 507 00:24:07,854 --> 00:24:10,085 Speaker 2: a beautiful girlfriend, or now girlfriend, but she used to 508 00:24:10,085 --> 00:24:12,085 Speaker 2: work for me at Mecca Jordan, and she's obsessed with 509 00:24:12,085 --> 00:24:13,045 Speaker 2: Cosmetics 27. 510 00:24:13,384 --> 00:24:15,244 Speaker 2: And I sent her the photos. I was like, Sean 511 00:24:15,244 --> 00:24:19,004 Speaker 2: with balm, Sean without balm. And we're like, Well, I'm sorry, Sean, 512 00:24:19,045 --> 00:24:20,654 Speaker 2: you just need to get your balm back. Yeah, sorry. 513 00:24:20,725 --> 00:24:23,435 Speaker 2: You're looking old as food. You're you're looking a bit old. 514 00:24:23,565 --> 00:24:26,845 Speaker 2: So he's got his balm back, and it genuinely, his 515 00:24:26,845 --> 00:24:30,484 Speaker 2: skin looks a million times better. He doesn't have botox 516 00:24:30,484 --> 00:24:33,134 Speaker 2: or fillers, and he's not that way inclined as a male. 517 00:24:33,379 --> 00:24:36,450 Speaker 2: Him and his choices, but he loves bum. And it works. 518 00:24:37,210 --> 00:24:40,489 Speaker 2: And then the overhyped, I would say, is your al 519 00:24:40,489 --> 00:24:44,930 Speaker 2: de Janeiro sprays. Oh, unless you're 10. Like overhyped, they 520 00:24:44,930 --> 00:24:47,649 Speaker 2: don't last very long. The ingredients behind them, I just 521 00:24:47,649 --> 00:24:50,979 Speaker 2: think people can do better from a fragrance standpoint. Yes, actually, 522 00:24:51,090 --> 00:24:53,170 Speaker 2: I completely agree with that. That's a good one. 523 00:24:54,475 --> 00:24:56,744 Speaker 2: Did I steal your thunder with balm? I thought this 524 00:24:56,744 --> 00:24:59,874 Speaker 2: Thunder with balm, but I also think of moisturizer. Yes, 525 00:24:59,955 --> 00:25:03,435 Speaker 2: there's lots of serums and gels and whatever it might be, 526 00:25:03,514 --> 00:25:06,075 Speaker 2: but actually, if you just put on a great moisturizer, 527 00:25:06,114 --> 00:25:07,994 Speaker 2: you feel it's a bit like why we started with 528 00:25:07,994 --> 00:25:10,994 Speaker 2: the essential ras with Bronte, a really great shower and 529 00:25:10,994 --> 00:25:13,354 Speaker 2: a really great lotion goes a long way to making 530 00:25:13,354 --> 00:25:16,384 Speaker 2: you feel enormously better. So I have to see these, like, 531 00:25:16,394 --> 00:25:19,994 Speaker 2: Shaun should be their promo. Yeah, basically. Yeah. So my pics, 532 00:25:20,075 --> 00:25:21,435 Speaker 2: I mean, I love and adore. 533 00:25:21,955 --> 00:25:26,354 Speaker 2: Mecca's fragrance offer, love, dip teak. Oh, the fragrances, uh, 534 00:25:26,394 --> 00:25:29,114 Speaker 2: and the knowledge of the staff that work in. I've 535 00:25:29,114 --> 00:25:32,114 Speaker 2: walked in there and like told them my preferences before 536 00:25:32,114 --> 00:25:33,835 Speaker 2: and they've just gone, Oh, you'll love this. And they 537 00:25:33,835 --> 00:25:36,484 Speaker 2: just so good. They nail it every time. Yeah. I, 538 00:25:36,555 --> 00:25:39,595 Speaker 2: I also think with fragrance, I mean, skincare and if 539 00:25:39,595 --> 00:25:41,435 Speaker 2: you're going in for skincare or makeup, it's kind of 540 00:25:41,435 --> 00:25:43,114 Speaker 2: got to perform or do something. So you're trying to 541 00:25:43,114 --> 00:25:44,915 Speaker 2: also figure out what do you like, what's it got 542 00:25:44,915 --> 00:25:47,195 Speaker 2: to do, whereas fragrance, you know if you love it 543 00:25:47,195 --> 00:25:49,994 Speaker 2: or not. You take, there is no rules. Just smell 544 00:25:49,994 --> 00:25:50,874 Speaker 2: it and enjoy it. 545 00:25:51,345 --> 00:25:54,984 Speaker 2: So, anything dip teak, obviously home and candles, but I 546 00:25:54,984 --> 00:25:57,744 Speaker 2: am probably quite biased to the Barrado scents. I love 547 00:25:57,744 --> 00:26:02,545 Speaker 2: a smokyudie. They have some really, really great scents in Barrato. 548 00:26:02,854 --> 00:26:06,864 Speaker 2: All right, looking ahead, what's next? Very excited for Bronte's 549 00:26:06,864 --> 00:26:10,305 Speaker 2: summer campaign. So I think with Body Care, we always 550 00:26:10,305 --> 00:26:11,854 Speaker 2: said it had to be on a shelf. 551 00:26:12,585 --> 00:26:16,075 Speaker 2: Because to feel it, we've worked so hard on the scents. 552 00:26:16,225 --> 00:26:18,744 Speaker 2: I think our Bronte sea salt is like second to none. 553 00:26:18,825 --> 00:26:21,864 Speaker 2: I just, every brand in every scent category, I just 554 00:26:21,864 --> 00:26:24,384 Speaker 2: love and adore that scent. So, to be on a shelf, 555 00:26:24,545 --> 00:26:27,024 Speaker 2: we feel passionate about testers and sampling, but we have 556 00:26:27,024 --> 00:26:30,984 Speaker 2: some really fun summer campaign ideas cause obviously the brand 557 00:26:30,984 --> 00:26:34,455 Speaker 2: so leans into that. We wanted to bottle the Australian lifestyle. 558 00:26:34,705 --> 00:26:37,904 Speaker 2: And again, very nostalgic millennial. So, I grew up in Queensland, 559 00:26:37,965 --> 00:26:39,585 Speaker 2: surf life saving culture. 560 00:26:39,994 --> 00:26:43,034 Speaker 2: So very, very excited for Bronte to have its home, 561 00:26:43,284 --> 00:26:45,604 Speaker 2: but then we activate it in the way that we 562 00:26:45,604 --> 00:26:48,284 Speaker 2: had always imagined. If you want to take SoMa. We've 563 00:26:48,284 --> 00:26:51,404 Speaker 2: been working on lots with Soma. We obviously had this 564 00:26:51,404 --> 00:26:55,725 Speaker 2: incredible opportunity to partner with Woolworths and create something that 565 00:26:55,725 --> 00:26:58,604 Speaker 2: we knew the customer wanted, but you're equally a little 566 00:26:58,604 --> 00:27:01,494 Speaker 2: bit constrained with Woolworths. You work on a range review window. 567 00:27:01,604 --> 00:27:04,325 Speaker 2: It's every 12 months the range review opens up, and 568 00:27:04,325 --> 00:27:06,965 Speaker 2: we were so grateful for the opportunity to arrange the 569 00:27:06,965 --> 00:27:09,325 Speaker 2: body wash. But we'd always envisage. 570 00:27:09,670 --> 00:27:13,670 Speaker 2: more. So when you think around aesthetic led or design-led products, 571 00:27:13,759 --> 00:27:18,560 Speaker 2: scent experiences, it obviously lends itself to many more products 572 00:27:18,560 --> 00:27:20,879 Speaker 2: outside of just a body wash. So there is lots, 573 00:27:20,920 --> 00:27:23,149 Speaker 2: and we actually were fortunate enough to be up here 574 00:27:23,149 --> 00:27:25,440 Speaker 2: talking to, um, the category manager and our buyer at 575 00:27:25,440 --> 00:27:29,790 Speaker 2: Woolworths yesterday, presenting a lot of newness to him. And 576 00:27:29,790 --> 00:27:32,590 Speaker 2: he left smiling and excited. So I think we, we 577 00:27:32,590 --> 00:27:33,909 Speaker 2: might have hit the nail on the head with a 578 00:27:33,909 --> 00:27:36,600 Speaker 2: few of the, hopefully all of them, but at least, 579 00:27:36,710 --> 00:27:38,710 Speaker 2: at least a few of the things that we showed him. 580 00:27:38,975 --> 00:27:41,445 Speaker 2: So watch this space. Hopefully everyone can have a lot 581 00:27:41,445 --> 00:27:46,614 Speaker 2: more so in their lives probably about 6 months' time. Well, 582 00:27:46,815 --> 00:27:48,894 Speaker 2: thank you both so much for joining us today. It 583 00:27:48,894 --> 00:27:59,215 Speaker 2: has been so lovely. We've gone on many different before 584 00:27:59,215 --> 00:28:01,575 Speaker 2: and afters and the balm, but I've really enjoyed it 585 00:28:01,575 --> 00:28:03,675 Speaker 2: and I know that the Uies will too, so thank 586 00:28:03,675 --> 00:28:05,455 Speaker 2: you so much. Thank you for having us. Thanks for 587 00:28:05,455 --> 00:28:05,975 Speaker 2: having us. 588 00:28:06,575 --> 00:28:09,055 Speaker 2: Thank you so much to Camille and Georgie, that was 589 00:28:09,055 --> 00:28:11,254 Speaker 2: just such a good chat. If you want to try 590 00:28:11,254 --> 00:28:13,685 Speaker 2: their products, you can have a look at Bronte online, 591 00:28:13,815 --> 00:28:16,335 Speaker 2: although it will be coming to stores soon, and Soma 592 00:28:16,335 --> 00:28:19,575 Speaker 2: can be found at Woolies. We'll see you next week, bye.