Mothers REJECT lucrative $5million deal to sell their beauty brand in China - because their natural products would have to be tested on animals
- Carly Pountney and Cassie Sanghvi launched The Base Collective in 2016
- The two busy mothers from Melbourne created natural and organic products
- So when they were presented with the opportunity to sell in China they declined
- China has a policy of mandatory testing on animals of foreign beauty products
Melbourne mothers Carly Pountney and Cassie Sanghvi launched their multi-million dollar skincare brand The Base Collective in 2016.
But when they were offered a lucrative $5 million deal to sell their Australian-made products in China they turned it down, as they didn't want to jeopardise their organic label.
The five-year contract they rejected from the world's second largest economy would have meant their magnesium-based oils and creams had to be tested on animals.
Melbourne mothers Carly Pountney (left) and Cassie Sanghvi (right) launched their multi-million dollar skincare brand The Base Collective in 2016
China has strict laws on foreign beauty products and asks that they always be tested in this way.
'When it came down to the crunch we had to turn the contract down because we've built this brand on a clean, green, safe model and it's built on trust,' Cassie told the Daily Telegraph.
'We're all about transparency, and it was just a non-negotiable for us.'
The businesswomen are still able to access Chinese customers through popular e-retail sites like JD.com, Kaola.com and WeChat without incurring any mandatory animal testing, but the ladies did say the falling through of the deal left them 'disappointed'.
China is slowly lessening its stance on animal involvement so The Base Collective creators hope to have another chance in the market soon.
Until then they are enjoying great success with Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie in the US and are about to launch in Australian Priceline pharmacies.
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They are still able to access Chinese customers through popular e-retail sites like JD.com, Kaola.com and WeChat without incurring any mandatory animal testing
China is slowly lessening its stance on animal involvement so The Base Collective creators hope to have another chance in the market soon
With five children between them it has been a juggling act ever since they started the project Carly told FEMAIL, but the pay-off has been huge, with the simply designed products earning the pair millions of dollars.
'We just wanted something chemical-free that you would proudly display on your bathroom cabinet,' Carly said previously.
'We were both taking magnesium supplements orally when one day Cassie - who is a pharmacist - said that applying magnesium topically is a much better way for your body to absorb it.
'So we created a functional range of skin products that include that ingredient, with our $21 oil a therapeutic product which, when applied to a particular area, can relieve pain symptoms.'
Magnesium has the ability to relieve muscle soreness, treat cramps - whether they be menstrual or pregnancy leg spasms - and even help with migraines.
'We just wanted something chemical-free that you would proudly display on your bathroom cabinet,' Carly said
'So for example if you have a headache you can apply the oil to your neck and shoulders to alleviate the pain,' Carly said.
If you use it everyday the magnesium oil will even start to take on a preventative measure and long-term will help you have less painful symptoms.
But while their success has been far-reaching and they're looking towards releasing other supplement-based ranges, the mothers have certainly put in the hard yards over the last three years.
'You have to do a lot of research. Shipping within Australia is different to freighting something overseas. We actually worked with a boxologist to decipher how best to package our products.
But while their success has been far-reaching and they're looking towards releasing other supplement-based ranges, the mothers have certainly put in the hard yards over the last three years
'We're getting better at outsourcing things as well - you have to have confidence in asking for help sometimes. But when we reply to customers it's always Cassie or myself, we want to keep that authenticity to our brand.'
The duo - who are friends as well as business partners - work alongside raising their tribe of children.
'Cassie has a nanny a couple of times a week but on the days she doesn't it's a matter of getting up before the kids and answering emails, or we'll text late at night if an idea comes up,' Carly said.
'But we do just catch up generally without it always being work-related.'
Their promising tips to other dreamers hoping to start a company is to build a trusting relationship with your manufacturers and suppliers.
The Base Collective is preparing to launch in a large Australian retailer soon - but the ladies can't say just yet who that will be
'Remember your brand is an extension of you so choose the right people to be associated and working with.
'Also pay attention to the message you're promoting. Our idea of having a clean, green, safe and no-nasties brand is at the very core of what we do on social media.
'Have some personality behind your brand as well. People will be able to relate the products better if they know there is a real person behind them.'
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