For Noelle O’Connor, the founder of TanOrganic, continuous innovation has been key to keeping the Irish-made skincare self-tanning brand fresh in the minds of consumers in the crowded cosmetics self-tanning market.
Following 10 years in business, TanOrganic launches today with a brand refresh. The brand logo has been revamped and the packaging has been updated to include fresh new colour tones. The brand refresh is part of TanOrganic’s marketing strategy and will continue to strengthen the growth of the brand over the coming years.
TanOrganic not only launches with a brand refresh but with a brand new purpose. TanOrganic has teamed up with rePurpose Global’s One for One Impact Guarantee Program. This means that for every TanOrganic bottle sold they will be removing and recycling 1lb of plastic from the ocean in Goa, India. It only takes one purchase to remove eight plastic bottles from the environment. By taking this bold commitment, every purchase will carry a negative plastic footprint across the full range of TanOrganic products.
TanOrganic founder and creator, Noelle O’Connor, says: “At TanOrganic we want to make a difference that doesn’t cost the earth. We’ have spent years perfecting the perfect tan formula, but thought let’s not stop there. As pioneers in beauty, we recognise the magnitude of the industry’s plastic problem, and we acknowledge our responsibility to clean up after ourselves. We can help make a difference, and partnering with rePurpose Global gives us the opportunity to make a significant impact to our lives, and others less fortunate than us. We have one earth, and it’s our duty to look after it. We have seen the devastating amount of waste generated every day by our industry so, to us, the urgency of this crisis was impossible to ignore and we decided to step up. Every step we take at TanOrganic is designed to respect people and our planet, so that our boxes are filled with purpose when they arrive at your door."
TanOrganic offers a range of self-tan and skincare products to not only make you look good, but to make you feel good too. TanOrganic is a skincare, luxury premium brand made from the highest quality of organic and active ingredients. For anyone investing in their skin and anti-aging TanOrganic is the brand for them.
So, what makes us different to all other self-tan brands?
- Ethical: All of our products are made to be as ethical as possible from supply chain to shelf.
- Certified: We back up all of our claims with certifications so our customer knows they can trust us.
- Impactful: Through various initiatives we give back to the planet with every product we make. We strive for first-class quality for all of our brands.
Starting out
Before creating TanOrganic, Noelle O’Connor already had previous entrepreneurial experience. She took a £2,000 Credit Union loan and built it into a spa business worth €3 million. The business was comprised of six medi-spas in Newbridge, Naas, Kildare, Maynooth, Portlaoise, Limerick and Carlow.
“We were flying high in the Celtic Tiger. So when everything crashed disposable, high-income luxury was the first thing to go, so my business’s revenue reduced by 80 per cent,” says O’Connor.
O’Connor had a background as a beauty therapist but had no formal business education. After the crash hit, she decided she wanted to further her education.
She became a participant in the MIT entrepreneurial masters programme that ran in conjunction with Ink Magazine. To earn a spot on the course, you had to be under 40 years of age, run a business in excess of $1 million and write a proposal as to why you should be accepted. She was accepted with 60 other entrepreneurs from all around the globe.
"Women were in the minority. The joke was that we got in because we were female," says O'Connor, one of the four women who participated in the programme. Through this course, O'Connor met motivational speaker Simon Sinek who gave a lecture on Finding Your Why. The premise of this was to make entrepreneurs think about why they are creating a business. After hearing Sinek speak, O'Connor became overwhelmed and upset as she had no idea what she wanted to pursue as a business venture.
“I don’t even know my ‘how’ never mind my ‘why’,” she thought to herself.
Simon sat down with her and asked her what she enjoyed doing the most in her past experience in business. O’Connor replied that she liked to be the first to use something or showcase something in her spas. She also previously worked on skincare in 2003 which she found she had a passion for. What she was going to pursue became clear.
“What I wanted was sustainable, ethical tan that is completely organic and chemical free,” she says.
O’Connor decided to create TanOrganic and pitch it on the Irish Dragons’ Den in 2009. The product officially launched in 2010.
Ahead of her time
Veganism and sustainability are popular consumer trends today but wouldn’t have been 10 years ago. Now, others are jumping on the bandwagon but Noelle believes TanOrganic has the edge.
The majority of other tanning and skincare products do not have the same certifications as TanOrganic.
As a business with sustainability at its core, TanOrganic will continue to fight for healthy, nourished skin and a happy planet. People and the planet will continue to come before profit, and our team is dedicated to delivering a little bit of sunshine in every bottle every step of the way.