Many consumers who care about the products they're using on their bodies struggle to find cost-effective options because many natural products are marked up significantly compared to their alternatives and usually only sold in small quantities.
I believe there are many people who have this need. Those with allergies, sensitive skin, a preference for natural products, those who are prone to reactions with various chemicals, moms worried about products inhibiting their babies' growth, and various other customers are included in this "who" since many cosmetic and hygiene products are known to have negative effects on users or even cause cancers and other conditions. This is a challenge with virtually every cosmetic or hygiene product. The most obvious is makeups that cause allergic reactions, but this extends to shampoos and hair products that ruin the proteins in your hair, fragrances in tampons that offset the proper vaginal pH, dyes in lotions that harm one's skin, and many more. There is the possibility that some people will attribute their problems (off-balance pH, dry hair, patchy skin, etc.) to things like a poor diet and eating habits, exposure to chemicals in other settings, and the like. While some of these could be contributing, the root of the problem is exactly what you are putting on your body.
Through the interviews that I conducted, I found that many people have thought about these risks but when faced with the decision between the products better for them and the cheaper option, a lot of them were drawn to the cheaper option. Many of them did mention that if presented with cheaper, more available natural options, they would most definitely opt for them. This shows that the need is there, and that if these products were manufactured on a bigger economy of scale, or if they weren't marketed as a "premium" product and rather just a simple alternative, more people would hop on board. One of the consumers I interviewed even mentioned that she had done research to create her own homemade natural products, but found that purchasing the ingredients were even more expensive on that scale. The opportunity is there, it just needs to be refined.
Hey Mckenna! With the increase of social media, I believe that consumers have become more educated about the products that they put onto their bodies. I know I definitely prefer natural options of products almost always, and I am trying to make the switch to using all natural makeup on a daily basis. I love makeup and I know the market very well, but it is so hard to find natural products that are cost-effective and deliver the same results as natural products. I definitely think that an opportunity to explore the natural market in a business venture would be very profitable.
ReplyDeleteHello Mckenna, I thought that you had a very interesting hypothesis. I know from personal experience that hygiene can get very expensive. Also, since the choices are endless it is almost impossible to know which products are the best for your skin. Furthermore, if a company provided cheaper and higher quality product they would be very successful in capturing a large market.
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