WEBVTT 00:00:12.480 --> 00:00:15.300 Hello and welcome to the Smart Beauty Podcast. 00:00:15.859 --> 00:00:18.699 I'm your host, Viola Levy, beauty journalist 00:00:18.699 --> 00:00:21.640 and founder of copy led branding agency, Smart 00:00:21.640 --> 00:00:26.140 Beauty Creative. I'm so excited to be talking 00:00:26.140 --> 00:00:29.539 to today's guest, Dr. Olivia Anne, co -founder 00:00:29.539 --> 00:00:33.100 of Floos. The period care industry has been stagnant 00:00:33.100 --> 00:00:36.640 for decades with two main brands dominating the 00:00:36.640 --> 00:00:39.719 market. I think we all know who they are. It's 00:00:39.719 --> 00:00:43.460 only now that creative entrepreneurs like Dr. 00:00:43.640 --> 00:00:46.200 Olivia are starting to really shake things up 00:00:46.200 --> 00:00:48.780 for the better. Together with her partner, Aaron 00:00:48.780 --> 00:00:52.100 Koshy, she created the world's first flushable 00:00:52.100 --> 00:00:56.039 micro plastic -free period pad, which is no mean 00:00:56.039 --> 00:00:59.039 feat when you think about the technical challenges 00:00:59.039 --> 00:01:02.840 involved. The materials obviously need to hold 00:01:02.840 --> 00:01:06.260 during use, but break down completely when flushed, 00:01:06.400 --> 00:01:09.150 which some might say... is impossible and that's 00:01:09.150 --> 00:01:12.109 what the two were frequently told by manufacturers. 00:01:12.730 --> 00:01:15.670 So in response they decided to build their own 00:01:15.670 --> 00:01:19.930 technology and have since raised 17 million to 00:01:19.930 --> 00:01:23.310 develop it further and Fluse is also now stocked 00:01:23.310 --> 00:01:27.010 in boots and Tescos. Olivia shares how she went 00:01:27.010 --> 00:01:30.189 from working in the NHS to running a femtech 00:01:30.189 --> 00:01:32.829 startup and what it really takes to challenge 00:01:32.829 --> 00:01:35.790 an industry that hasn't innovated in decades. 00:01:35.930 --> 00:01:38.640 Let's get into it. So Olivia, thank you so much 00:01:38.640 --> 00:01:41.900 for joining me today. What made you think that 00:01:41.900 --> 00:01:44.420 this was a concept worth pursuing, first of all? 00:01:44.560 --> 00:01:46.500 Oh, well, thank you so much, first of all, for 00:01:46.500 --> 00:01:48.620 having me on the podcast today. You're welcome. 00:01:48.739 --> 00:01:51.000 I'm absolutely thrilled to be here. And one of 00:01:51.000 --> 00:01:52.819 the things that you talked about, it's a simple 00:01:52.819 --> 00:01:55.439 concept, but I absolutely do not claim that I'm 00:01:55.439 --> 00:01:57.819 the first one to have thought of it. When I absolutely 00:01:57.819 --> 00:02:00.299 started the journey, we had lots of messages 00:02:00.299 --> 00:02:02.420 coming in being, oh, I also wanted it to be flushable. 00:02:02.579 --> 00:02:04.859 But I think I've always thought about, you know, 00:02:04.859 --> 00:02:07.219 what if a pad was flushable? But I think what 00:02:07.219 --> 00:02:09.520 really helped us was the technological advancements 00:02:09.520 --> 00:02:11.240 that were being made at the same time that we 00:02:11.240 --> 00:02:12.819 were looking into it at the time of the market. 00:02:13.870 --> 00:02:16.210 I'd say that we were really lucky in our timing 00:02:16.210 --> 00:02:18.569 and getting into that. Other people had looked 00:02:18.569 --> 00:02:20.710 at it before, but one of the things I was genuinely 00:02:20.710 --> 00:02:24.389 led by was hearing stories of other people who 00:02:24.389 --> 00:02:26.270 either didn't know that period products shouldn't 00:02:26.270 --> 00:02:29.169 be flushed, like tampons, or knew that they shouldn't 00:02:29.169 --> 00:02:31.650 flush, but still flushed anyway. And so one of 00:02:31.650 --> 00:02:33.490 the things that I learned at the start of my 00:02:33.490 --> 00:02:35.330 journey was that one in three women in the UK 00:02:35.330 --> 00:02:37.189 had admitted to flushing period products within 00:02:37.189 --> 00:02:39.169 the last 12 months, which kind of shocked me. 00:02:39.169 --> 00:02:41.870 So I was like, you know, if there's such a wanted 00:02:41.870 --> 00:02:45.099 behavior. There isn't a single product in the 00:02:45.099 --> 00:02:47.539 market that can fulfill those needs and so I 00:02:47.539 --> 00:02:49.219 thought you know, let's let's try and have a 00:02:49.219 --> 00:02:51.460 go at it ourselves And what was the story leading 00:02:51.460 --> 00:02:53.759 up to the launch? Just sort of touching on your 00:02:53.759 --> 00:02:55.900 own personal background. Was this something that 00:02:55.900 --> 00:02:59.860 you'd wanted to do for a long time or Yes, how 00:02:59.860 --> 00:03:02.090 did it all come about? Well, I stumbled into 00:03:02.090 --> 00:03:04.770 it quite as a personal experience, firstly as 00:03:04.770 --> 00:03:07.490 a consumer, because I was looking for better 00:03:07.490 --> 00:03:10.090 products for myself in the market. I had recently 00:03:10.090 --> 00:03:12.229 been diagnosed with endometriosis, and so I was 00:03:12.229 --> 00:03:13.849 looking for products that were better for myself, 00:03:13.849 --> 00:03:18.009 but also I had just moved into my sort of housemates 00:03:18.009 --> 00:03:20.409 at university and stuff. So I really wanted to 00:03:20.409 --> 00:03:22.770 better understand how to lessen my impact on 00:03:22.770 --> 00:03:25.569 the planet. But whilst doing so, I sort of got 00:03:25.569 --> 00:03:27.610 disenfranchised with what the options in front 00:03:27.610 --> 00:03:30.330 of me. And I was very lucky to be living with 00:03:30.330 --> 00:03:32.240 my housemate at the time, Aaron, who is now my 00:03:32.240 --> 00:03:35.259 co founder, and also partner today. And within 00:03:35.259 --> 00:03:39.060 that, we were looking at really the burden of 00:03:39.060 --> 00:03:41.479 sustainable guilt that I really feel has been 00:03:41.479 --> 00:03:44.300 unfairly thrust upon us as consumers, we like 00:03:44.300 --> 00:03:46.460 stand in front of the shelf, or in front of the 00:03:46.460 --> 00:03:49.620 bin, trying our best, but within a system that 00:03:49.620 --> 00:03:51.659 is almost feels like it's designed for us to 00:03:51.659 --> 00:03:54.479 fail. And so I was like, you know, let's do let's 00:03:54.479 --> 00:03:56.979 create a company, let's create a product that 00:03:56.979 --> 00:03:59.759 really makes the easiest thing for you and rewards 00:03:59.759 --> 00:04:01.900 you and the planet at the same time. So yeah, 00:04:01.939 --> 00:04:04.639 that was a real thing. That was a personal personal 00:04:04.639 --> 00:04:07.039 drive. But in university, I started off doing 00:04:07.039 --> 00:04:08.879 medicine. So I ended up working in the NHS for 00:04:08.879 --> 00:04:12.199 a couple of years. But then as the product development 00:04:12.199 --> 00:04:14.819 and further research into this, I stepped out 00:04:14.819 --> 00:04:16.540 of it, went into this full time a couple of years 00:04:16.540 --> 00:04:18.839 after the NHS. Oh, I'm very pleased that you 00:04:18.839 --> 00:04:22.439 did. It's crazy, really, when you think when 00:04:22.439 --> 00:04:24.600 i was a teenager there were two brands that always 00:04:24.600 --> 00:04:28.339 in tampax that our mothers had and it's It just 00:04:28.339 --> 00:04:30.540 baffles me that the period care market is only 00:04:30.540 --> 00:04:33.319 now starting to diversify and independent brands 00:04:33.319 --> 00:04:35.319 are coming to the fore. Do you think that's mainly 00:04:35.319 --> 00:04:37.360 because we're just starting to talk about it 00:04:37.360 --> 00:04:40.519 a lot more now? Absolutely. I think having that 00:04:40.519 --> 00:04:43.019 conversation on space to be able to have those 00:04:43.019 --> 00:04:45.959 discussions to, we're still, I would say, still 00:04:45.959 --> 00:04:48.019 got a little bit further to go and sort of supporting 00:04:48.019 --> 00:04:50.639 women in the workplace and those who menstruate 00:04:50.639 --> 00:04:53.560 to be able to have the conversations freely about 00:04:53.560 --> 00:04:55.980 this. And I think having those transparency discussions 00:04:55.980 --> 00:04:57.819 about what goes into the product. how these products 00:04:57.819 --> 00:05:00.319 are made and the impact they truly have on not 00:05:00.319 --> 00:05:02.899 just the planet, but our bodies. We're only just 00:05:02.899 --> 00:05:05.519 about understanding the impact between microplastics 00:05:05.519 --> 00:05:08.500 and chronic inflammatory conditions and things 00:05:08.500 --> 00:05:10.759 that can be triggered and further worsened by 00:05:10.759 --> 00:05:13.480 that. And especially with such intimate products 00:05:13.480 --> 00:05:15.699 that stay against our skin, not continually, 00:05:16.060 --> 00:05:18.360 but as a batch of them across five to seven days, 00:05:18.540 --> 00:05:20.439 this is something that absolutely we need further 00:05:20.439 --> 00:05:24.160 clarity on. And I think, like you say, with these 00:05:24.160 --> 00:05:26.415 huge behemoths and big strategic incumbents. 00:05:26.410 --> 00:05:29.529 in the market. I'm really pleased to see this 00:05:29.529 --> 00:05:31.850 new wave of like transparent companies coming 00:05:31.850 --> 00:05:34.649 in questioning the industry status quo, and we 00:05:34.649 --> 00:05:36.680 hope to be part of that. Yeah, journey. I read 00:05:36.680 --> 00:05:38.839 a crazy statistic. I don't know if you've come 00:05:38.839 --> 00:05:40.300 across it saying that there are more tests done 00:05:40.300 --> 00:05:42.439 on hamster food than there are on traditionally 00:05:42.439 --> 00:05:45.579 on period products. Not the red. That doesn't 00:05:45.579 --> 00:05:48.879 surprise me. I can't verify. I'll try and verify 00:05:48.879 --> 00:05:52.660 that. No, but that does not surprise me. One 00:05:52.660 --> 00:05:54.680 of the things that I'm absolutely passionate 00:05:54.680 --> 00:05:56.959 about is getting the data out there. One of the 00:05:56.959 --> 00:06:00.579 things that currently we're supporting is endometriosis 00:06:00.579 --> 00:06:02.860 and adenomyosis and getting the support that 00:06:02.860 --> 00:06:04.759 they have within the workplace so that they could 00:06:04.759 --> 00:06:07.860 get three paid sick leaves per month as they 00:06:07.860 --> 00:06:10.600 support, so that they don't have to choose between 00:06:10.600 --> 00:06:13.240 pain and pay. And one of the things that we know 00:06:13.240 --> 00:06:16.839 is that one in 10 people in the UK have diabetes 00:06:16.839 --> 00:06:19.120 and the amount that goes into research for that, 00:06:19.519 --> 00:06:22.360 one in 10 women have endometriosis, but has nowhere 00:06:22.360 --> 00:06:25.660 near the amount of money that goes into the research 00:06:25.660 --> 00:06:28.620 for conditions and symptoms and cures and things 00:06:28.620 --> 00:06:30.220 like that. And so that's one of the things that 00:06:30.220 --> 00:06:32.600 we really hope to be able to do is start. shedding 00:06:32.600 --> 00:06:35.980 light on areas that is lacking data, so that 00:06:35.980 --> 00:06:37.860 we can get better and safer research and safer 00:06:37.860 --> 00:06:40.160 products out there. Because there's obviously 00:06:40.160 --> 00:06:42.379 the sustainability angle of them being flushable, 00:06:42.379 --> 00:06:44.339 but it's also super convenient, like I myself, 00:06:44.420 --> 00:06:46.319 I say I've been a long time customer and having 00:06:46.319 --> 00:06:49.000 a toddler and just chaotic home life, it's just 00:06:49.000 --> 00:06:50.980 so much easier to just be able to flush something 00:06:50.980 --> 00:06:52.959 down the loo. I mean, what was the main kind 00:06:52.959 --> 00:06:55.899 of focus? Or were they both equally important 00:06:55.899 --> 00:06:59.360 to you? Well, no, no, no, for us, it was never, 00:06:59.500 --> 00:07:03.569 we never wanted to have the changing consumer 00:07:03.569 --> 00:07:06.250 behaviour that didn't feel easier. We wanted 00:07:06.250 --> 00:07:09.209 something that felt instinctual and it was genuinely 00:07:09.209 --> 00:07:12.389 a moment where I had run out of pads, I didn't 00:07:12.389 --> 00:07:14.149 realise that I was still on my period and so 00:07:14.149 --> 00:07:16.649 I just used some toilet paper to be able to just 00:07:16.649 --> 00:07:18.990 guide me over for the next time until I was able 00:07:18.990 --> 00:07:21.850 to get my hands on pads. And then as I was flushing 00:07:21.850 --> 00:07:23.389 that away I was like, you know what, what is 00:07:23.389 --> 00:07:25.189 the actual difference in the composition of these 00:07:25.189 --> 00:07:27.430 products? Like surely these are just plant fibres, 00:07:27.470 --> 00:07:28.949 what are the ways that we can do this so that 00:07:28.949 --> 00:07:31.449 we can make it flushable and easier? Because 00:07:31.370 --> 00:07:33.790 we want to. you know, naturally and instinctually 00:07:33.790 --> 00:07:35.870 flush it away, so much so that one in three women 00:07:35.870 --> 00:07:39.029 in the UK have done. So that was really the point 00:07:39.029 --> 00:07:41.410 of we never wanted to sacrifice that convenience. 00:07:41.410 --> 00:07:43.670 And that's why it was important for us that every 00:07:43.670 --> 00:07:45.949 part was flushable, not just the pad. The thing 00:07:45.949 --> 00:07:48.029 that took us another two, three years to develop 00:07:48.029 --> 00:07:50.009 were actually the flushable peel papers on the 00:07:50.009 --> 00:07:52.449 back, how to make sure that they were fully safe, 00:07:52.629 --> 00:07:54.850 fully flushable and fully sustainable. And then 00:07:54.850 --> 00:07:56.930 also the pouch itself, so that everything that 00:07:56.930 --> 00:07:59.050 you felt was just convenient, wasn't just the 00:07:59.050 --> 00:08:02.350 pad. But yeah, that for us was therefore creating 00:08:02.350 --> 00:08:04.589 something that was first of all safer and then 00:08:04.589 --> 00:08:06.930 simpler and then also undermined by sustainable. 00:08:07.930 --> 00:08:10.230 now what was the i mean we can go and we can 00:08:10.230 --> 00:08:12.910 go on a whistle stop tour of this but in terms 00:08:12.910 --> 00:08:15.769 of developing the product and getting it manufactured 00:08:15.769 --> 00:08:17.870 i mean i'm sure you were met with a lot of pushback 00:08:17.870 --> 00:08:19.470 in the beginning where people are saying this 00:08:19.470 --> 00:08:22.189 can't be done and you mentioned a few of the 00:08:22.189 --> 00:08:24.589 the issues with all the different components 00:08:24.589 --> 00:08:26.310 and making sure that those were all flushable 00:08:26.310 --> 00:08:28.670 too and what was that whole journey like and 00:08:28.670 --> 00:08:30.329 was there ever a point where you were thinking 00:08:30.329 --> 00:08:34.350 okay maybe we uh should change tack and uh develop 00:08:34.350 --> 00:08:37.720 something else No, you're right. I mean, when 00:08:37.720 --> 00:08:39.980 I look back at the development process of it, 00:08:40.080 --> 00:08:41.980 it's been littered with... both hurdles, but 00:08:41.980 --> 00:08:44.919 we've been very, very fortunate that at each 00:08:44.919 --> 00:08:47.659 point where we found points of difficulty where 00:08:47.659 --> 00:08:50.279 the industry was saying it's impossible, we managed 00:08:50.279 --> 00:08:52.700 to find a partner who shared the vision and was 00:08:52.700 --> 00:08:54.919 like, no, no, no, let's find a way. So first 00:08:54.919 --> 00:08:57.120 of all, with our raw materials, we had to source 00:08:57.120 --> 00:08:59.559 everything that was water -dispersible, but also 00:08:59.559 --> 00:09:02.039 microplastic -free and fully biodegradable. So 00:09:02.039 --> 00:09:04.360 all three of these things had to be a necessity. 00:09:04.539 --> 00:09:06.279 Is that the main criteria for something to be 00:09:06.279 --> 00:09:10.350 called flushable? Yes, exactly. Exactly. And 00:09:10.350 --> 00:09:12.889 we also wanted to source it so that it was global. 00:09:12.970 --> 00:09:15.269 So we wanted to ensure that our supply chain 00:09:15.269 --> 00:09:17.210 was defensible, not just, let's say, in the UK, 00:09:17.309 --> 00:09:19.690 but also in Asia and also in America and Europe. 00:09:19.889 --> 00:09:22.450 And so having and building those was the first 00:09:22.450 --> 00:09:24.250 step. And then converters, how do we convert 00:09:24.250 --> 00:09:25.970 that in a way that's sustainable, in a way that 00:09:25.970 --> 00:09:29.110 doesn't use microplastics, that doesn't use a 00:09:29.110 --> 00:09:32.309 high amount of energy? And that was, again, finding 00:09:32.309 --> 00:09:34.110 partners along there. But I think one of our 00:09:34.110 --> 00:09:37.070 most important challenges was the scaling up 00:09:37.070 --> 00:09:39.860 of the manufacturing process. So before we used 00:09:39.860 --> 00:09:42.440 to build these pads out of hand, we were doing 00:09:42.440 --> 00:09:44.779 our early product testing. So each pad took about 00:09:44.779 --> 00:09:47.120 15 minutes by hand to these handcrafted products. 00:09:47.500 --> 00:09:49.740 But now we've been able to build a machine that 00:09:49.740 --> 00:09:53.840 creates these around 600 pads per minute. And 00:09:53.840 --> 00:09:55.799 in order to do that, there were three main things 00:09:55.799 --> 00:09:57.980 that the industry told us was impossible. So 00:09:57.980 --> 00:10:00.440 number one was that all products are built with 00:10:00.440 --> 00:10:03.179 this hot melt acrylic glue. So even if all of 00:10:03.179 --> 00:10:05.120 the products around it and the materials are 00:10:05.120 --> 00:10:07.480 biodegradable, because they're bonded together 00:10:07.480 --> 00:10:10.149 with this melted glue it means that not only 00:10:10.149 --> 00:10:12.409 does it release micro plastic but it fails to 00:10:12.409 --> 00:10:14.730 make it further biodegradable. The second part 00:10:14.730 --> 00:10:17.690 was also the core and the within there you have 00:10:17.690 --> 00:10:19.769 this super absorbent polymer which is typically 00:10:19.769 --> 00:10:22.350 made from petrochemicals and polyethylene and 00:10:22.350 --> 00:10:24.570 plastics so we replace that with a cellulose 00:10:24.570 --> 00:10:27.029 base a completely plant -based way that almost 00:10:27.029 --> 00:10:29.730 acts like starch so you can add a bit of water 00:10:29.730 --> 00:10:32.529 in it thickens and forms a gel but as soon as 00:10:32.529 --> 00:10:35.210 you over flood it with water it completely loosens 00:10:35.210 --> 00:10:37.690 and of course is biodegradable and And finally, 00:10:37.789 --> 00:10:40.029 of course, is the plastic backing sheet. We've 00:10:40.029 --> 00:10:41.889 replaced that with something that's completely 00:10:41.889 --> 00:10:44.330 water soluble, micro plastic free, and allows 00:10:44.330 --> 00:10:47.190 it to be biodegraded away within 30 days. And 00:10:47.190 --> 00:10:50.009 so as part of that, that machinery, we partnered 00:10:50.009 --> 00:10:52.690 with an Italian machine firm, and we've built 00:10:52.690 --> 00:10:54.009 that machine. It took us about three and a half 00:10:54.009 --> 00:10:56.789 years to build. Oh my gosh. But we're really, 00:10:56.789 --> 00:10:58.490 really proud of that. And that, I think, was 00:10:58.490 --> 00:11:00.210 our biggest hurdle to get to this point so far. 00:11:00.409 --> 00:11:02.549 and then also there's the performance issue as 00:11:02.549 --> 00:11:04.450 well because in a competitive market you know 00:11:04.450 --> 00:11:06.549 you have to make sure they're leak proof and 00:11:06.549 --> 00:11:09.149 I remember these sort of fancy pads we got like 00:11:09.149 --> 00:11:11.450 about 20 or so years ago they had these tiny 00:11:11.450 --> 00:11:12.769 little gel beads in them I don't know if you 00:11:12.769 --> 00:11:14.450 remember those but goodness knows what they were 00:11:14.450 --> 00:11:17.090 doing to like the waterways of the planet but 00:11:17.090 --> 00:11:19.509 yeah how did you um manage to make it so that 00:11:19.509 --> 00:11:21.789 they were still um you know high performance 00:11:21.789 --> 00:11:24.129 and you know would prevent leakage and other 00:11:24.129 --> 00:11:26.710 and other issues relating to that. Yeah, you've 00:11:26.710 --> 00:11:29.490 hit the real sort of crux of the question on 00:11:29.490 --> 00:11:31.389 the head there. It only took us a few months 00:11:31.389 --> 00:11:33.690 to make a pad that was flushable. It took us 00:11:33.690 --> 00:11:35.590 another five years to make something that was 00:11:35.590 --> 00:11:37.970 really absorbent, high endurance and flushable. 00:11:38.090 --> 00:11:40.870 And part of that, I would say it's not a single 00:11:40.870 --> 00:11:42.690 answer, but I would say like an onion of answers. 00:11:42.730 --> 00:11:45.830 At the core of it, we've got a patented technology 00:11:45.830 --> 00:11:47.990 that allows the core to be super absorbent, in 00:11:47.990 --> 00:11:50.929 a way, sort of like a one way street. So it absorbs 00:11:50.929 --> 00:11:53.149 blood and fluid from the top down and traps it 00:11:53.149 --> 00:11:54.970 in a sort of gel like core. But as soon as the 00:11:54.970 --> 00:11:57.970 entire core is flooded with water, with a high 00:11:57.970 --> 00:12:00.429 volume of water. It dissipates, breaks apart 00:12:00.429 --> 00:12:04.149 and dissolves and moves away to be biodegraded. 00:12:04.389 --> 00:12:06.009 So that's the first sort of bit. Second part 00:12:06.009 --> 00:12:08.570 of it is also the materials that we use within 00:12:08.570 --> 00:12:12.450 it. We've worked a lot with our converters and 00:12:12.450 --> 00:12:15.169 raw material suppliers to ensure that they are 00:12:15.169 --> 00:12:17.570 the right formulations and created in a way that 00:12:17.570 --> 00:12:20.370 they are no longer, each part is no longer than 00:12:20.370 --> 00:12:22.470 the length of a human eyelash, so three millimeters. 00:12:22.789 --> 00:12:24.809 So as soon as they are met with the force of 00:12:24.809 --> 00:12:26.929 a flush, they are able to dissipate away, but 00:12:26.929 --> 00:12:29.950 each fibre is highly, highly absorbent. And because 00:12:29.950 --> 00:12:32.690 we've been able to replace all of that existing 00:12:32.690 --> 00:12:35.570 conventional plastic with these cellulose and 00:12:35.570 --> 00:12:37.789 polymers, that has allowed it to be naturally 00:12:37.789 --> 00:12:39.710 much more absorbent than the existing products. 00:12:39.870 --> 00:12:41.950 And so with that, we've been able to do continuous 00:12:41.950 --> 00:12:44.490 testing. So along the journey, we've had about 00:12:44.490 --> 00:12:47.549 65 ,000 people along the journey who's trusted 00:12:47.549 --> 00:12:50.769 us with their period care and really helped us 00:12:50.769 --> 00:12:53.269 develop and given us feedback. Hopefully you 00:12:53.269 --> 00:12:55.980 would have seen along the journey, all the feedback 00:12:55.980 --> 00:12:57.620 and product trials that we always ask people 00:12:57.620 --> 00:13:00.220 to do and each time we have a minimum of let's 00:13:00.220 --> 00:13:03.080 say 150 participants to ensure that we've got 00:13:03.080 --> 00:13:06.240 a good sort of trial basis there. it's such a 00:13:06.240 --> 00:13:08.200 tricky balance. That's why I'm just so like in 00:13:08.200 --> 00:13:09.840 admiration of what you've achieved. Because yeah, 00:13:10.200 --> 00:13:12.360 you think about it has to sort of hold the liquid, 00:13:12.659 --> 00:13:15.720 but then also be, you know, be able to disintegrate. 00:13:15.720 --> 00:13:17.299 So I think the fact that you managed to achieve 00:13:17.299 --> 00:13:20.879 that is incredible, to be honest. And in terms 00:13:20.879 --> 00:13:22.960 of costing as well, because people aren't going 00:13:22.960 --> 00:13:25.919 to spend a lot of money on a, you know, a premium 00:13:25.919 --> 00:13:29.179 period care product necessarily, are they? And 00:13:29.340 --> 00:13:31.620 given that, you know, you're a sustainable brand, 00:13:32.320 --> 00:13:34.519 there's, you know, less product runs, it's a 00:13:34.519 --> 00:13:36.879 lot more expensive to manufacture. So how did 00:13:36.879 --> 00:13:39.139 you manage to make make all of that side of things 00:13:39.139 --> 00:13:42.840 work? Oh well thank you so much, yeah that has 00:13:42.840 --> 00:13:46.659 been really a challenge for us because we first 00:13:46.659 --> 00:13:49.820 of all have the increased barrier that the materials 00:13:49.820 --> 00:13:53.360 themselves are much more expensive than the existing 00:13:53.360 --> 00:13:56.240 petrochemicals or even I would say cotton or 00:13:56.240 --> 00:13:58.379 existing sort of materials like that because 00:13:58.379 --> 00:14:00.899 they're much more used within the industry and 00:14:00.899 --> 00:14:04.139 also currently our sort of volumes of scale are 00:14:04.139 --> 00:14:07.019 not competing with the existing sort of larger 00:14:07.019 --> 00:14:08.659 companies within the space and so we're still 00:14:08.659 --> 00:14:11.230 building our way within this journey. The second 00:14:11.230 --> 00:14:15.210 part is also we are still in the process of continuing 00:14:15.210 --> 00:14:17.330 that value engineering of our products. And so 00:14:17.330 --> 00:14:20.250 right now we're striving for the best for our 00:14:20.250 --> 00:14:23.190 products. And so each process hasn't been optimized 00:14:23.190 --> 00:14:25.629 for cost. And so as we've been doing that, one 00:14:25.629 --> 00:14:27.570 of the things that we are doing is we hope to 00:14:27.570 --> 00:14:29.450 be able to, right now we're really pleased that 00:14:29.450 --> 00:14:31.549 we've been able to bring these boxes. So 399 00:14:31.549 --> 00:14:34.090 for a pack of medium pads and 349 for a pack 00:14:34.090 --> 00:14:37.409 of liners. And we hope that as we continue this 00:14:37.409 --> 00:14:38.480 journey, we'll be able to make them. more and 00:14:38.480 --> 00:14:41.100 more affordable for the mass market, but that's 00:14:41.100 --> 00:14:43.659 always been a priority for us that they're not 00:14:43.659 --> 00:14:46.700 so unaffordable because we really, really want 00:14:46.700 --> 00:14:49.279 to ensure that they are accessible to as many 00:14:49.279 --> 00:14:51.759 people as we can make them be. And it's a pretty 00:14:51.759 --> 00:14:53.399 tough market when you've got the big dogs, like 00:14:53.399 --> 00:14:55.759 we're saying, like Always and Tampax. I mean, 00:14:55.919 --> 00:14:58.039 how did you feel sort of competing with them 00:14:58.039 --> 00:15:00.440 and sort of going into that market as a smaller 00:15:00.440 --> 00:15:04.669 player? Well, if I'm honest, I... I was aware 00:15:04.669 --> 00:15:07.909 and I thought I had a strategy to go in in terms 00:15:07.909 --> 00:15:09.649 of like, you know, create a good product. But 00:15:09.649 --> 00:15:12.889 in hindsight, I think I was a little naive in 00:15:12.889 --> 00:15:14.990 terms of, you know, like, we'll start with this 00:15:14.990 --> 00:15:16.730 product. But I've been very, very fortunate that 00:15:16.730 --> 00:15:18.669 I've had a significant amount of funding. So 00:15:18.669 --> 00:15:20.710 we've had about 17 million pounds worth of funding 00:15:20.710 --> 00:15:23.289 so far to go into the R &D and the tech side 00:15:23.289 --> 00:15:27.110 of the product. Thank you. And so as part of 00:15:27.110 --> 00:15:29.330 that, for us, the strategy has very much been 00:15:29.330 --> 00:15:33.110 build a sort of tech branded company. So the 00:15:33.110 --> 00:15:35.809 way that I've built Planera behind Floos is a 00:15:35.809 --> 00:15:38.549 material technology company that builds these 00:15:38.549 --> 00:15:40.529 platform material technologies. So FlushTech, 00:15:40.830 --> 00:15:44.509 we've applied it first into Floos, our own consumer 00:15:44.509 --> 00:15:47.129 brand within Femcare, but FlushTech itself could 00:15:47.129 --> 00:15:49.649 also be applied the flushable technology into 00:15:49.649 --> 00:15:51.710 adult incontinence, into baby products, into 00:15:51.710 --> 00:15:54.980 household hygiene. And for us, that's an opportunity 00:15:54.980 --> 00:15:57.940 for us to really showcase what FlushTech can 00:15:57.940 --> 00:16:00.320 do to one of the markets, but then also look 00:16:00.320 --> 00:16:02.980 to license FlushTech into existing ones. So let's 00:16:02.980 --> 00:16:06.080 say Pampers wants to become flushable. You could 00:16:06.080 --> 00:16:08.299 maybe in the future see a Pampers powered by 00:16:08.299 --> 00:16:10.139 FlushTech and you'll know exactly what that'll 00:16:10.139 --> 00:16:13.580 do because it's a brand that you are aware and 00:16:13.580 --> 00:16:15.779 really like and use, but then would also have 00:16:15.779 --> 00:16:17.850 the power to be flushable as well. That's brilliant. 00:16:18.029 --> 00:16:19.870 So you guys are basically, you're the manufacturers 00:16:19.870 --> 00:16:22.210 themselves. So instead of, you know, you're basically 00:16:22.210 --> 00:16:25.330 taking over that part of the process. Yes. It 00:16:25.330 --> 00:16:28.029 wasn't the original plan, if I'm honest, but 00:16:28.029 --> 00:16:31.029 it's because necessity forced us down that road. 00:16:31.409 --> 00:16:34.460 And I would say that kind of COVID was the catalyst 00:16:34.460 --> 00:16:37.559 for it, as is many, many things for startups 00:16:37.559 --> 00:16:40.460 that have sort of lived through that era. But 00:16:40.460 --> 00:16:43.460 we had planned to work with a contract manufacturer 00:16:43.460 --> 00:16:45.820 to sort of try to get a flushable product to 00:16:45.820 --> 00:16:48.299 market. But then everything within the absorbent 00:16:48.299 --> 00:16:50.620 hygiene industry sort of shut down and of course 00:16:50.620 --> 00:16:53.440 diverted to personal protection equipment and 00:16:53.440 --> 00:16:57.159 masks. And so for us, we sort of were like, either 00:16:57.159 --> 00:16:59.399 do we sit on our hands and wait this out and 00:16:59.399 --> 00:17:02.129 see what happens in two years time, or we sort 00:17:02.129 --> 00:17:03.769 of thought, let's try and do this ourselves. 00:17:03.950 --> 00:17:05.769 What are the ways that we can do to build this 00:17:05.769 --> 00:17:07.230 machine and get this out there and sort of prove 00:17:07.230 --> 00:17:10.349 the concept? And so that was a decision that 00:17:10.349 --> 00:17:14.529 we made when we heard the Boris Johnson speech 00:17:14.529 --> 00:17:17.150 that evening. Yeah. And so did either of you, 00:17:17.190 --> 00:17:18.869 did you have that kind of technical background 00:17:18.869 --> 00:17:20.609 at the time, or was it something that you had 00:17:20.609 --> 00:17:23.109 to then go back? back to school for, as it were. 00:17:23.529 --> 00:17:26.890 Yeah, well, my co -founder Aaron is an engineer. 00:17:26.990 --> 00:17:30.109 So he is a design engineer and a biochemical 00:17:30.109 --> 00:17:34.349 engineer from Imperial. So he used his engineering 00:17:34.349 --> 00:17:36.410 skills. So both of us, however, I would say we 00:17:36.410 --> 00:17:39.390 sort of learnt on the go. We were very fortunate 00:17:39.390 --> 00:17:42.730 to have partners who taught us and we sort of 00:17:42.730 --> 00:17:47.170 learnt things through experience. But I would 00:17:47.170 --> 00:17:49.589 say we're very proud to be the inventors on the 00:17:49.589 --> 00:17:51.539 patterns that we've got today. what's been the 00:17:51.539 --> 00:17:55.000 feedback when you've had to pitch to retail buyers? 00:17:55.599 --> 00:18:01.299 Have they been very receptive? Yes, so our strategy 00:18:01.299 --> 00:18:04.819 with the retailers was we really wanted to find 00:18:04.819 --> 00:18:07.759 partners who were aligned in their mission on 00:18:07.759 --> 00:18:10.920 sustainability, but also really aligned in finding 00:18:10.920 --> 00:18:14.240 that. education and sort of brand education aspect 00:18:14.240 --> 00:18:16.579 because we know that as a flushable product you 00:18:16.579 --> 00:18:18.819 can't just stick us on a shelf and expect people 00:18:18.819 --> 00:18:20.960 to sort of immediately trust and understand like 00:18:20.960 --> 00:18:22.660 what what that product is and what it can do 00:18:22.660 --> 00:18:25.420 for you and so that's why we wanted to launch 00:18:25.420 --> 00:18:28.259 first with with boots and they've been an incredible 00:18:28.259 --> 00:18:30.819 partner because congratulations by the way I'm 00:18:30.819 --> 00:18:32.940 getting in there amazing thank you they have 00:18:32.940 --> 00:18:34.980 such space across their boots app their advantage 00:18:34.980 --> 00:18:38.099 card their emails across that all of these sort 00:18:38.099 --> 00:18:40.380 of digital touch points that allow us for that 00:18:40.380 --> 00:18:42.769 education and sort of the introduction of Floos 00:18:42.769 --> 00:18:45.990 into the sort of consumer's hands. And secondly, 00:18:46.109 --> 00:18:47.890 with Tesco, we were really wanted, we were really 00:18:47.890 --> 00:18:50.630 proud of launching with them because for us, 00:18:50.950 --> 00:18:53.430 the number one grocer in the UK, they provide 00:18:53.430 --> 00:18:55.490 that convenience to people when they're doing 00:18:55.490 --> 00:18:58.009 that weekly grocery shop. And we want to be able 00:18:58.009 --> 00:19:00.970 to be in places that our people are already shopping. 00:19:01.150 --> 00:19:04.690 And whilst we've had our website open, really, 00:19:04.690 --> 00:19:07.940 I would say that was... finding that product 00:19:07.940 --> 00:19:10.779 market fit for that product ready for that retail 00:19:10.779 --> 00:19:13.279 consumer because we know that over 90 % of women 00:19:13.279 --> 00:19:16.240 still shop in in stores for their period products. 00:19:16.680 --> 00:19:19.839 Yeah, and how is how is it very clear from being 00:19:19.839 --> 00:19:22.640 completely D to C to suddenly being in retailers 00:19:22.640 --> 00:19:25.799 like what are the main differences and challenges 00:19:25.799 --> 00:19:28.200 that you've encountered with that? So on our 00:19:28.200 --> 00:19:29.819 website, we have access to all the data that 00:19:29.819 --> 00:19:35.559 we want immediately. For retail, you uh, it was 00:19:35.559 --> 00:19:38.240 news to me, but you have to buy the data in order 00:19:38.240 --> 00:19:40.640 to be able to understand how your brand is doing. 00:19:41.200 --> 00:19:45.700 So that is, um, I didn't know that either until 00:19:45.700 --> 00:19:48.480 I started this process, but, um, there's a significant 00:19:48.480 --> 00:19:51.299 cost to sort of engaging with retailers. And 00:19:51.299 --> 00:19:53.960 whilst of course, like every thing, every part 00:19:53.960 --> 00:19:56.539 of that data is important and relevant for us 00:19:56.539 --> 00:19:59.740 to sort of learn and do that, that sort of, um, 00:19:59.980 --> 00:20:02.630 immediacy of not having that. you know, intricate 00:20:02.630 --> 00:20:05.950 wealth of data is something new. It's in the 00:20:05.950 --> 00:20:08.190 interest of the retailer, surely, because it 00:20:08.190 --> 00:20:09.910 obviously helps you sell your product better 00:20:09.910 --> 00:20:17.250 in their stores. I agree. And so that is, I would 00:20:17.250 --> 00:20:20.549 say, it feels like a lot slower of a turnaround, 00:20:20.890 --> 00:20:23.349 like for us, like if we launch something today 00:20:23.349 --> 00:20:25.029 we'll be able to figure out by this afternoon 00:20:25.029 --> 00:20:27.349 like how people are doing and what they're looking 00:20:27.349 --> 00:20:30.190 at and so with that we've got a few weeks delay 00:20:30.190 --> 00:20:32.769 in terms of understanding how everything is going 00:20:32.769 --> 00:20:36.549 but from the first few months of being in Boots 00:20:36.549 --> 00:20:38.630 we've already had a discussion with them about 00:20:38.630 --> 00:20:42.250 launching new products and we're only five weeks 00:20:42.250 --> 00:20:45.369 into Tesco so fingers crossed that you know that's 00:20:45.369 --> 00:20:47.329 also something that we'll continue to do in the 00:20:47.329 --> 00:20:50.200 future. So I think some people, some founders 00:20:50.200 --> 00:20:52.119 tend to have a bit of naivety thinking, right, 00:20:52.140 --> 00:20:54.180 I've got into that retailer, now that's it, that's 00:20:54.180 --> 00:20:55.759 I've achieved, you know, that's the end of the 00:20:55.759 --> 00:20:59.180 rainbow. And it's actually, as I'm sure you've 00:20:59.180 --> 00:21:01.529 got a foot in the door and whilst You have to 00:21:01.529 --> 00:21:04.049 work hard to stay there, right? Yes. But we've 00:21:04.049 --> 00:21:06.410 also only got two products on their shelf. Like 00:21:06.410 --> 00:21:08.170 we want to have, you know, build up to a full 00:21:08.170 --> 00:21:10.690 shelf. We want to be able to also not just stay 00:21:10.690 --> 00:21:12.390 in the Femcare aisle, but talk about, you know, 00:21:12.490 --> 00:21:14.569 what are the other ways that FlushTech can support 00:21:14.569 --> 00:21:16.829 the retailers. And one of the main things that 00:21:16.829 --> 00:21:19.049 they responded really well to was the fact that 00:21:19.049 --> 00:21:21.410 this is a zero landfill product. You know, this 00:21:21.410 --> 00:21:23.009 is something that will not go into the bins and 00:21:23.009 --> 00:21:25.230 it's something that can be completely biodegraded 00:21:25.230 --> 00:21:28.549 within 30 days to water, biogas and fertilizer. 00:21:28.789 --> 00:21:30.650 And the other part was zero microplastic. So 00:21:30.650 --> 00:21:32.690 these two completely new claims to their fan 00:21:32.690 --> 00:21:34.470 cash off or something that was like, okay, this 00:21:34.470 --> 00:21:36.650 is something that also helps them achieve their 00:21:36.650 --> 00:21:39.269 goals of, you know, getting zero carbon by 2050. 00:21:40.170 --> 00:21:42.390 And imagine when it comes to language and the 00:21:42.390 --> 00:21:44.670 tone of voice you use, did you sort of say, okay, 00:21:44.710 --> 00:21:46.930 we're going to be completely direct and upfront 00:21:46.930 --> 00:21:49.529 and we're not going to use terminology like, 00:21:49.529 --> 00:21:52.089 you know, sanitary products or things like that 00:21:52.089 --> 00:21:54.769 where we're sanitizing the actual issue, but 00:21:54.769 --> 00:21:56.609 we don't want to be to the other way where people 00:21:56.609 --> 00:21:58.349 are just like, oh, going to scroll past that. 00:21:58.839 --> 00:22:01.500 No, I'm so glad that you brought up the word 00:22:01.500 --> 00:22:04.019 sanitary pad because that is one of our banned 00:22:04.019 --> 00:22:07.119 words. Yeah, I hate that word. Yeah, so that's 00:22:07.119 --> 00:22:09.299 why we always say the menstrual products or period 00:22:09.299 --> 00:22:11.400 gags. It's like, let's just talk about what it 00:22:11.400 --> 00:22:15.119 actually is. It's a great question about turn 00:22:15.119 --> 00:22:19.220 a voice. So as a brand, we have a lot of education 00:22:19.220 --> 00:22:21.819 to do. And also we've got to be credible in terms 00:22:21.819 --> 00:22:24.019 of being a flushable technology that is sort 00:22:24.019 --> 00:22:26.880 of bringing this to market. And so we sort of 00:22:26.880 --> 00:22:29.000 weighed that up versus the disruptive nature 00:22:29.000 --> 00:22:30.720 in terms of how we want it to be. And so for 00:22:30.720 --> 00:22:33.579 us, I think we've landed more in being that bold, 00:22:33.680 --> 00:22:36.890 direct, we're never gonna sort of take. you know, 00:22:36.950 --> 00:22:38.890 five sentences to get to something that we could 00:22:38.890 --> 00:22:42.509 do in one and we'll also be up front in the scientific 00:22:42.509 --> 00:22:44.930 terminology that we do always with references 00:22:44.930 --> 00:22:47.490 so that we can have that credibility and hopefully 00:22:47.490 --> 00:22:50.829 through facts and through those bold claims comes 00:22:50.829 --> 00:22:53.670 a disruption that we have there. Although we 00:22:53.670 --> 00:22:56.410 have strayed into that territory our first ever 00:22:56.410 --> 00:22:58.769 out of home campaign where we called the mother 00:22:58.769 --> 00:23:03.130 flusher campaign where we had strategically the 00:23:03.130 --> 00:23:06.380 word flush over a certain word across our campaign. 00:23:07.140 --> 00:23:08.960 So that was a brilliant way to, I think, sort 00:23:08.960 --> 00:23:11.740 of hopefully grab people's attention and sort 00:23:11.740 --> 00:23:14.019 of show the way that we could sort of be disruptive. 00:23:14.180 --> 00:23:17.640 And as a founder, as female founder, do you feel 00:23:17.640 --> 00:23:20.769 a pressure to be a brand ambassador? Yeah, well, 00:23:21.009 --> 00:23:23.009 I absolutely started off, I would call myself 00:23:23.009 --> 00:23:26.490 and our own technical founders. So we were very 00:23:26.490 --> 00:23:29.349 much product development and as the brand launched 00:23:29.349 --> 00:23:32.809 and as we grew a community, it needed a face 00:23:32.809 --> 00:23:35.890 and it felt like it was a sort of natural sort 00:23:35.890 --> 00:23:39.089 of decision for me to sort of help become and 00:23:39.089 --> 00:23:44.170 support that requirement. It is... It's a tricky 00:23:44.170 --> 00:23:45.750 balance and something that I'm still learning 00:23:45.750 --> 00:23:47.849 to do because I'm still working in the business, 00:23:48.390 --> 00:23:50.329 still working on things that require deadlines 00:23:50.329 --> 00:23:52.329 and submissions, but also starting to do things 00:23:52.329 --> 00:23:54.980 like. coming onto this wonderful podcast and 00:23:54.980 --> 00:23:58.539 speaking to other founders and having speaking 00:23:58.539 --> 00:24:00.440 engagements and things like that to help promote 00:24:00.440 --> 00:24:04.099 the brand and the messaging that we have. That's 00:24:04.099 --> 00:24:06.039 a question that I'll hopefully address in the 00:24:06.039 --> 00:24:08.279 upcoming years as I learn to balance that role, 00:24:08.299 --> 00:24:10.799 but I really love working in the business and 00:24:10.799 --> 00:24:13.900 so I want to become a brand ambassador that is 00:24:13.900 --> 00:24:16.660 true to who I am as well within the business 00:24:16.660 --> 00:24:19.539 and not lose that site that is really passion 00:24:19.539 --> 00:24:21.910 driving for me. But I guess it's about sort of 00:24:21.910 --> 00:24:25.049 leaning into what makes you unique and trying 00:24:25.049 --> 00:24:27.269 to be a certain way that people are on social 00:24:27.269 --> 00:24:29.049 media. It can be tricky at times, I imagine. 00:24:29.269 --> 00:24:31.970 Absolutely, because I'm passionate about speaking 00:24:31.970 --> 00:24:35.130 about sustainability and period care, which honestly 00:24:35.130 --> 00:24:38.349 does not make me the most fun dinner guest, but 00:24:38.349 --> 00:24:40.910 it does mean that I get to come onto places like 00:24:40.910 --> 00:24:42.990 this and talk about these topics. And that's 00:24:42.990 --> 00:24:44.650 brilliant because it's something that I really 00:24:44.650 --> 00:24:46.809 am passionate about. But I also really love, 00:24:46.809 --> 00:24:49.049 you know, getting my hands dirty and getting 00:24:49.049 --> 00:24:51.250 the manufacturing up and going. What's been the 00:24:51.250 --> 00:24:54.069 biggest learning curve for you throughout this 00:24:54.069 --> 00:24:57.710 whole journey that you've been on? Oh, I think 00:24:57.710 --> 00:25:00.670 biggest learning curve for me was balancing the 00:25:00.670 --> 00:25:03.029 emotional rollercoaster that we sort of go on 00:25:03.029 --> 00:25:06.609 along this business building journey. There's 00:25:06.609 --> 00:25:10.390 been some brilliant highs, but also some many, 00:25:10.430 --> 00:25:15.190 many low lows and balancing those emotional sort 00:25:15.190 --> 00:25:17.670 of ups and downs. I've been very fortunate to 00:25:17.670 --> 00:25:20.670 have a co -founder who's also my partner. And 00:25:20.670 --> 00:25:23.250 so having someone who's been there in the trenches 00:25:23.250 --> 00:25:25.660 with me to share that with and also leave on 00:25:25.660 --> 00:25:29.200 my team to go through those hard times is something 00:25:29.200 --> 00:25:30.460 that I'm very fortunate to have and something 00:25:30.460 --> 00:25:32.660 that I encourage everyone to sort of build those 00:25:32.660 --> 00:25:34.579 connections and support system as they go through. 00:25:35.220 --> 00:25:37.640 Because yeah, that is something that I'm still 00:25:37.640 --> 00:25:39.660 learning to do better every day. Definitely. 00:25:39.740 --> 00:25:41.519 I think we've already talked about founders and 00:25:41.519 --> 00:25:43.980 their mental health, but it is so fragile because 00:25:43.980 --> 00:25:46.359 you're fighting so many fires all the time. And 00:25:46.359 --> 00:25:49.140 I think having to stay resilient and grounded, 00:25:49.140 --> 00:25:51.119 it can be a real challenge. And I think that's 00:25:51.119 --> 00:25:55.000 something. Yes, because also it's my first time 00:25:55.000 --> 00:25:57.779 along this time really like managing and caring 00:25:57.779 --> 00:26:00.319 for a team. And I feel responsible for ensuring 00:26:00.319 --> 00:26:03.720 that, you know, are they you know not burning 00:26:03.720 --> 00:26:06.059 out making sure that they're all you know motivated 00:26:06.059 --> 00:26:08.099 driven you know see the same goals that we're 00:26:08.099 --> 00:26:10.619 going on and sort of on the same track together 00:26:10.619 --> 00:26:13.240 and that that's all sort of stuff that I've been 00:26:13.240 --> 00:26:15.799 learning as we've been doing together which is 00:26:15.799 --> 00:26:17.839 part of the best part of the job. And what's 00:26:17.839 --> 00:26:20.160 your ultimate dream for the brand say in like 00:26:20.160 --> 00:26:22.380 five or ten years time where would you ideally 00:26:22.380 --> 00:26:26.059 like to take it or anything else you'd like to 00:26:26.059 --> 00:26:29.910 develop along the way? Yeah, five years time 00:26:29.910 --> 00:26:34.849 I would love for the industry to have sort of 00:26:34.849 --> 00:26:38.720 asked itself why aren't you know, all disposable 00:26:38.720 --> 00:26:41.599 period pads flushable if they can be just as 00:26:41.599 --> 00:26:44.920 performing. And not only is Fluse hopefully in 00:26:44.920 --> 00:26:47.319 more retailers, but also you'll start to see 00:26:47.319 --> 00:26:49.960 FlushTech in other brands. So I'd love to start 00:26:49.960 --> 00:26:52.779 licensing that into other brands. And we don't 00:26:52.779 --> 00:26:54.700 want to be sort of, you know, jealous over our 00:26:54.700 --> 00:26:56.440 technology. We want to share it and get it into 00:26:56.440 --> 00:26:59.920 as much of the market as possible. So yeah, I 00:26:59.920 --> 00:27:01.759 hope that's the start of our journey. And we'll 00:27:01.759 --> 00:27:03.700 hopefully also be in different markets outside 00:27:03.700 --> 00:27:06.440 the UK as well. Thank you so much, Olivia, for 00:27:06.440 --> 00:27:08.759 chatting with me. Really appreciate it. And honestly, 00:27:08.839 --> 00:27:11.519 I really admire what you have both achieved and 00:27:11.519 --> 00:27:13.160 the product itself. As I say, I've been a long 00:27:13.160 --> 00:27:15.640 time user, so huge fan anyway. So it's a real 00:27:15.640 --> 00:27:17.900 pleasure to chat with you. Thank you. Oh, thank 00:27:17.900 --> 00:27:19.799 you so much for having me on the podcast and 00:27:19.799 --> 00:27:22.220 really brilliant time. It has brilliant questions 00:27:22.220 --> 00:27:24.279 and a really amazing conversation with you. Thank 00:27:24.279 --> 00:27:39.670 you. I hope you enjoyed that episode. All links 00:27:39.670 --> 00:27:41.910 will be in the show notes and feel free to visit 00:27:41.910 --> 00:27:45.190 smartbeautycreative .com or visit us over on 00:27:45.190 --> 00:27:47.390 Instagram to find out more about what we do. 00:27:47.609 --> 00:27:49.650 And if you enjoyed listening, please don't forget 00:27:49.650 --> 00:27:52.210 to rate and review Smart Beauty on iTunes as 00:27:52.210 --> 00:27:54.490 it helps people find us. See you next time!