Q1. Tell us where it all began
Copper Coast Natural Skincare based in Dunhill, Co Waterford, was established in 2015.The inspiration for Copper Coast Natural Skincare came from researching and creating natural products for my child who had sensitive skin, I wanted to create products that were free from harmful chemicals but still effective.
We create a range of natural skincare products including body butter, body wash & lotion, lip balm, facial oil & balm and shaving soap. In addition, we also produce home fragrance products including soy wax candles, reed diffusers and wax melts all fragranced using essential oils and no synthetic fragrances.
“Copper Coast Natural Skincare based in Dunhill, Co Waterford, was established in 2015.”
Q2. What differentiates you from similar businesses in this area?
Both the skincare and home fragrance products are individually formulated and hand-crafted drawing inspiration from nature. All of our products are made in our workshop in Dunhill and are created using natural ingredients so the user benefits from the qualities of the ingredients. It is very important to us to use packaging that is reusable, recyclable or refillable.
“All of our products are made in our workshop in Dunhill and are created using natural ingredients so the user benefits from the qualities of the ingredients.”
Q3. What would you say are the biggest challenges your business is currently facing?
The biggest challenges at present are sourcing ingredients and packaging as with everything some costs have increased dramatically making some blends of oils etc unsustainable. Personally keeping up with social media and marketing is also a challenge which can impact on sales growth.
“Both the skincare and home fragrance products are individually formulated and hand-crafted drawing inspiration from nature.”
Q4. What are your top ‘moments of joy’ over the past 4-5 years?
I have had great support from other local businesses who stock my products such as Ardkeen Quality Food Stores, Finders Keepers, The Book Resort, Youme, Fleurdelismarie, Coast Guard Cultural centre and the Copper Coast Geopark to name a few.
Awards:
- Finalist for the Free From skincare awards in 2022 and 2021
- Finalist in the Waterford Local Enterprise awards 2022
- Finalist in the Beauty section of the Irish Made Awards 2018
- Currently a finalist in the Guaranteed Irish Business awards 2023
Although having been a finalist for a number of awards across different areas, this is personally a great achievement as I run the business on my own from making the products to running social media, ordering stock and seeking new clients etc.
Last year I started collaborating with Vivien O’Malley with our V&V collection of Home Fragrance products, this has been a brilliant project to work on as I have always admired Vivien’s work.
Q5. What does the future hold for your business?
I hope to contiue to grow Copper Coast Natural Skincare by increasing our online and social media presence and to continue to work with our great stockists, hopefully picking up some more too. There will be new skincare products being launched in March and hopfully May to enhance our current range. I hope to also extend the Copper Coast Home range with some exciting new additions. A longer term goal is to improve and expand the workshop and to work on exporting into other markets.
“A longer term goal is to improve and expand the workshop and to work on exporting into other markets.”
