Why Small Businesses are Beautiful
Make your life easier. Care for and nourish your skin in an honest way
Small Businesses, Indie Beauty Brands, Independent British Businesses.
Let's talk about small businesses, whatever name you give them.
It's something I have had lots of time to think about.
To some people, small is a bit of an unknown.
You don't quite know what you are going to get.
Are they any good?
Am I going to get what I paid for?
I've never heard of these people - can I trust them?
These are all valid concerns which I completely get.
I spend my time espousing a different view.
Or course I am biased - but hear me out - I think with good reasons.
For most of us that run small businesses something a little different is going on behind the scenes.
There's usually a crazy busy stressed person on a roller coaster ride of great highs (when a customer writes a testimonial thanking you for helping them feel good about themselves) and great lows - am I going to be able to pay the bills this month and shall I make more face cream or should I stop for dinner, (usually the face cream wins).
I passionately think that small businesses make a positive difference.
Especially in the world of beauty where the industry is dominated by big players, whose businesses are built around scale and profit.
I don't necessarily believe this is wrong.
It just depends on whether answering to shareholders and delivering a profit is at the expense (no pun intended) of looking after your customers.
Based on what I see, sometimes the answer is yes.
This is at odds with how I run my small business - and most others I think.
Here are some alternative words that resonate with me when I think about small businesses.
Independent. Community. Entrepreneurial. Innovative. Tailored Experience. Flexible. Creative. Adaptable.
And 3 reasons why I believe small businesses are worth your time.
1 - A Business With A Face
How many times have you had sense of humour failure when trying to speak to a real person to get help (or even the same person twice).
A small business loves their customers and will bend over backwards to help them.
My favourite thing is talking to my customers and helping them find beauty products that will make their soul sing.
You are the centre of our world, as a customer. Yes you right there.
There is nothing more important than you.
I can sometimes get distracted by that new plant oil for my next new product - but it always comes back to you.
You are not a number on a sales report, a faceless person to be parted from their cash.
Every small business owner I know wants to stroke and pamper you so you feel valued - as you should be.
2 - Indie Beauty Businesses and Trust.
Let's talk about the tricky question of trust.
Especially when buying something you are going to put on your skin.
A small business is exactly that.
You won't likely find us on the first page of Google.
We probably won't have a gazillion reviews (which may or not be fake). 😦
Though I am very proud of our almost 1000+ 5 star reviews (and all of them from real customers!)
I know a lot of small business owners, and I know from my own experience and theirs that our world revolves around our customers.
When a customer of mine explained why they trusted me more than a large well known beauty brand, their candid explanation was that they figured that the large brand could be sparing with the truth and their promises and likely nothing would happen - but if I did the same I would go out of business.
And it's a fair point. Myself and every small business owner I knows pours all their energies into building trust so they can help more customers.
3 - Small Beauty Businesses and Priorities
There is something beautiful about being small and being master of your own ship.
I've been approached multiple times by investors, all keen to 'help me' build my business.
But I have found their idea of help a little different to mine.
A drive on increasing margins.
Selling more units.
Marketing to a new huge audience.
Instead, I find that being small allows me to hold hands with my customer and listen to what they want.
It allows me to make decisions about what products I come out with - based on what they love.
It allows me to craft hand made, gorgeous, pampering skin treats with the most exquisite ingredients.
And I like it that way.
In a 2017 report on the cosmetics industry, Deloitte found that, “small is the new big,” noting that, “global brands are losing share as small brands and disruptors are gaining. Forbes.com
Do you have anything to add about why small is important to you? I would love to hear below.
Less is more - a little simplicity
The idea behind The Rose Tree is grown up beauty. Less about looking 10 years younger and more about feeling amazing. The best ingredients for the job, not the cheapest. The finest natural and organic plant oils and butters, selected for their effectiveness.
I am all about being small, because small means personal, and comes with great service. I want finding beauty that works to be easy. I am passionate about manufacturing in Britain, sourcing ingredients ethically and being able to give a little back to the world.
My customers tend to fall into two groups.
They're either in their 30s and 40s juggling kiddies and jobs.
Or they tend to be in the 40s, 50s, and upwards - and are juggling busy lives with and adapting to their skin's changing needs, perimenopause, menopause and beyond.
I'm all about ignoring the rules, must have products, must have ingredients, it's exhausting. Let's ditch this idea that you need tens of products and a 10 step skincare routine.
Simplicity is good.
Best Sellers Capsule Collection
Blissful Aromatherapy Roller Ball Collection
Bath Indulgence Collection
I used to have a 'proper' job commuting in and out of London, working crazy hours for a big blue chip organisations. I was a tad stressed, and my skin was not very happy,
I still works crazy hours but for herself, creating beauty and wellbeing goodies. Grown up beauty designed to make your life easier, that's a little clever, and that's a little easy.
The Rose Tree is a multiple award winning British beauty brand with a focus on grown up beauty. The finest natural and organic plant oils and butters, selected for their effectiveness. A small boutique producer which offers great service, who manufactures in Britain with a focus on sourcing ingredients ethically and giving back through it’s partnership with Buy1Give1.
"A British-made, luxurious, organic brand that particularly suits sensitive skin. Perfect for the mum who likes her beauty all natural."
The Independent
What women are saying about us...
"As if it wasn't bad enough that the menopause and lack of oestrogen has dried my skin to the point of reptilian , I was horrified to keep having outbreaks of spots too - talk about insult to injury . Was sceptical that an oil would help - but on a friend's recommendation tried this oil and it clears any outbreaks overnight! Amazing!" Justine
"I have tried many other products - top of the line products - none of which accommodated the change to my maturing skin. How I wish I'd found The Rose Tree products years ago. My skin looks and feels wonderfully nourished." - Kara Joy
"I I love using the Radiance Facial Essence, it makes my skin feel fabulous. I have been using this for a number of years now and would definitely recommend it." Laura
At The Rose Tree, I believe that grown up beauty means being responsible. This includes sourcing ingredients ethically, manufacturing in England, and giving a little back.
I care about making my products safe and healthy for you—and our planet. I package the majority of products in glass. I am extremely picky about my ingredients. We never test our products on animals.
I also partner up with Buy1Give1 (B1G1), a social enterprise and non-profit organisation with a mission to create a world full of giving. Unlike conventional giving models, B1G1 helps small and medium-sized businesses achieve more social impact by embedding giving activities into everyday business operations and creating unique giving stories.
That means, with your help, we can make a small but positive difference.