We are thinking about a four pack with Baby Elephant all-natural sunscreen, aloe lotion, body wash/shampoo and tender tush cream. We would love to have some feedback/comments on this concept to assess interest. Products would be packaged together in 5 oz. bottles……Feel free to leave comments here or on our Facebook fan page at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=261267912237
We launched SolarAegis All-Natural Sunscreen into the market in January 2010. The goal for the first year was to get SolarAegis into a major, national retail chain and to launch our children’s product, Baby Elephant. Although I’ve been pleased with our overall progress the failure to complete these two key objectives was disappointing. Dealing with large corporations takes time and it would have been a tremendous accomplishment to get this done in the first year. We will continue our efforts in 2011 and think our chances for national market penetration will improve in year two. Baby Elephant continues to wait in the wings and was not launched primarily due to my waffling over minor details. This frustrated me because it’s not my typical M.O. and I plan to be more decisive on this line in 2011. I’m currently reviewing several strategies, with a couple of different entities, and will be moving on this product in Q1.
I felt good about the regional awareness SolarAegis attained during 2010. We are selling the product through several local businesses in Naples and I appreciate the support from the owners at Natures Garden, The Bike Route, Naples Soap Company and the staff at The Naples Botanical Garden. Sandy Feldblum has done a fabulous job repping the product through her beauty business and at a local market and seems to have a loyal following. Many thanks to these folks for your business in 2010. It’s much appreciated and we look forward to growing with you in 2011.
We were able to modestly expand our reach outside of southwest Florida with online sales through OverallBeauty.com and Upurea.com. We also did some business with the Myrtle Beach Soap Company in Myrtle Beach, SC. and Aesthe in Los Angeles. Our biggest surprise, however, was shipments into South Korea. It was exciting to have our first international sales and we appreciate the work of Coseco for the loyal following in South Korea. We continue to focus on penetrating the Brazilian market, with the help of Hague Technologies, in an effort to offset the seasonality of the business. Brazil is an exciting, developing economy with growing sun health awareness. Our ongoing challenge remains finalizing government approval so we can begin regular sales.
SolarAegis remains an infant company and the risks are still very high, but we look forward to a great 2011 and want to thank all of the customers that have been so supportive in our first year. See you in 2011!!
When I first started delving into sun protection it appeared the Environmental Working Group (EWG) was a stern advocate of the consumer, especially when it came to personal care ingredients. I have since learned this group is essentially a lobbying firm out to promote their own political agendas. My concern over their criticism of sunscreen use is that they use scare tactics and fear mongering to progress their internal objectives. This could be done at the expense of the consumer, possibly influencing their decision to not use a product like sunscreen, to protect themselves from UV damage and possibly skin cancer. I have read all of their claims as they relate to sunscreen and sunscreen ingredients. I will post more here as I deem fit, but for now, it is important to know they are not the noble consumer advocates they lead you to believe they are…..
Here is a link to the Skin Cancer Foundations web page that addresses some of the EWG’s recent claims. Please keep your mind open and wear sunscreen. Protect yourself and your kids from the harmful rays of the sun….
I recall sitting in the gym doing dumbbell curls and noticed that a red, scaly spot on my right upper arm was not going away and even appeared to be getting bigger. I thought it was psoriasis…..or something….but it was peculiar the way it was changing. It had been there for over a month. I decided to head to the dermatologist to get the spot looked at and have a thorough skin exam while I was there. I recall the doctor taking one look at my arm and saying “oh yeah, this is cancer”. Well, so much for being subtle. Do I have time to change my underwear before we get this thing off me??!!
That was six years ago. Unfortunately, I have the disfiguring battle scars of many other basal cell carcinoma lesions that have been cut off me. The good news is my issues have been with the least aggressive of the skin cancers, even though I’ve continued to have chronic problems. Some people aren’t so lucky, though. Since starting SolarAegis and delving into the world of sun health, I’ve had a surprising number of people tell me about their own experiences with skin cancer, including the most deadly, malignant melanoma. Most shocking is that many are y0ung. Some in their 40′s. Others in their 30′s and even a couple in their 20′s. The point is that age is not as important as awareness and getting screened. I want to point out that some of the stories are not from folks who had skin cancer themselves, but friends or relatives who died unexpectedly from this highly aggressive form of cancer (melanoma).
May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month and a post on this topic was surely in order. Most of my basal cell lesions have appeared visually non-threatening (and almost all skin cancers do), but the fact is, it’s skin cancer and it needs to be addressed. That first trip to the dermatologist (for me) also revealed another basal cell lesion I was not aware of, on the back of my leg. Getting screened is important and I would recommend a routine trip to the dermatologist once a year. Twice a year if you’ve already had issues with cancerous or pre-cancerous lesions.
It’s also important to keep an eye on yourself in between visits with a self exam. Because malignant melanoma is so deadly due to its ability to metastasize (spread to other parts of the body, including internal organs) the Skin Cancer Foundation has an “ABCDE” self exam method.
A- Asymmetry. Look for moles that are not circular in shape.
B- Border irregularity. The borders of the mole or lesion are not smooth but appear erratic or inconsistent in their shape
C- Color. Inconsistent or changing color.
D- Diameter. Greater than 6 millimeters in diameter.
E- Evolving. You see the spot changing in any capacity.
If you can note any of these, get to a dermatologist ASAP.
I would like to also point out that skin color is not an excuse to avoid a check up. Although darker complexioned individuals are more protected than light skin tones, the possibility of skin cancer remains. Do you know how the famous reggae singer Bob Marley died? I thought is was a drug overdose, but the truth is, it was malignant melanoma. Even African Americans are at risk and, unfortunately, have the highest death rate from melanoma because of a lower awareness about skin cancer and because it’s more difficult for them to identify and monitor problem areas.
Take an hour and go see a dermatologist. Your life could depend on it!
To learn more visit the Skin Cancer Foundation website at: http://skincancer.org/melanoma-screening-saves-lives.html
