Episode notes
Almost 30 years ago, Abi Cleeve sat down with nothing but a stack of Yellow Pages and an idea. Long before the internet, she methodically called pharmacies across the country, persuading them to try a little-known Swiss suncare brand, UltraSun. Then, in her battered old Beetle, she personally drove stock to anyone willing to give it a chance.
To keep up with demand, Abi hired an assistant named Dan to help pack orders, and he remained with the company ever since.
Fast-forward three decades, and UltraSun is a household name, stocked by major retailers like SpaceNK and celebrating 20 years as a QVC best-seller. Abi is also the MD of two other brands – SkinSense and SBC Skincare – and proudly describes herself as a “business hippie.”
Her approach is refreshingly rare: she has no shareholders, keeps six months of salaries and runni ...
Keywords
skincarebeautyfemale founderbusinessbeauty retailerbeauty buyersuncareSPF