Spend the time building relationships with your suppliers to be sure your packaging, ingredients, and any other unique components will be available on a consistent basis. We started with a lot of stock packaging and limited availability options that ended up costing time and money when they sold out or discontinued stock.
The plant-based revolution is here. As consumers globally are shifting towards more eco-conscious and health-oriented choices, the demand for plant-based products has never been higher. From food and beverages to cosmetics and clothing, the plant-based industry is blossoming with opportunities. But how does one tap into this growing market? What are the key ingredients to launching and scaling a successful plant-based product business? In this interview series, we are exploring the world of plant-based entrepreneurship. We are talking to founders, product developers, industry experts, and innovators who have successfully navigated the plant-based business landscape. As a part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Nancy Rimbergas.
Nancy is the founder of Earth Based Body, a collection of succulent skincare offering dry skin solutions. Her mission is to banish dry skin while celebrating hydrating desert-derived ingredients and bringing a desert oasis into every home.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive into the main focus of our interview, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your childhood backstory?
Igrew up in the Chicago suburbs where I was very involved in dance and then volleyball. I was raised to be competitive and to think “creatively”. Some would call that thinking outside the rules. I lived in the same house my entire life until I headed off to college.
After a long stint in the beverage industry, I started my boutique marketing agency and realized that I wanted to create my brand and tell my own story.
Growing up, I was fortunate enough to have a Dad who organized family trips every year, including Arizona. Eventually, my husband and I (along with the rest of my immediate family) leaped to leave the cold Chicago winters in exchange for crazy hot summers, mild winters, gorgeous sunsets, and beautiful views everywhere you look.
You are a successful leader. Which three-character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?
Creativity, generosity, and tenacity are the character traits that have propelled me to success. The creativity goes back to thinking outside the box. Instead of trying to chase down the assets, like pricey custom packaging, I believe are making brand successful, I do my best to look around at the resources I have in my backyard.
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now? How do you think that might help people?
Our focus is on banishing dry skin, so we’re always looking for ways to get our product in peoples’ hands, literally! We’re about to release a new Body Cream Discovery Set that exemplifies our brand. When we couldn’t source our natural tubes, we took the opportunity to find eco-tubes made of sustainable sugarcane that cuts down our energy footprint. It also gave us the opportunity to collaborate with an artist to create new watercolor paintings that we turn into our labels. For gifts and discovery, we created a new box with mini versions of our best-selling body creams for trial and travel.
OK, thank you for all of that. Let’s now shift to the core focus of our interview about creating a successful plant-based product business. What inspired you to enter the plant-based product industry? Did you have a turning point or eureka moment that led you into the plant-based industry? Can you share some key milestones that helped shape your journey to success?
I was inspired by a great friend of mine who was diagnosed with Melanoma. I started learning much more about how 60% of what we put on our skin is absorbed into our bodies. With skincare on my mind, I knew that if I went down this road, it would be with only natural and powerful ingredients that serve a purpose. We showcase the most hydrating ingredients that are native to Arizona. They are functional and beautiful. So much so that we don’t use any artificial colorants or fragrances. The Cactus Crush body cream is pink because we use Prickly Pear Cactus juice as an antioxidant boost, not because we love pink.
What do you believe are the key factors behind the recent surge in demand for plant-based products, and how can aspiring entrepreneurs authentically tap into this growing trend?
The surge in plant-based love is real! Health consciousness, environmental awareness, and ethical considerations are driving it. For aspiring entrepreneurs, authenticity is the golden ticket. Showcase your commitment to sustainability, cruelty-free practices, and quality ingredients. Connect with your audience, share your story, and make transparency your BFF. The desert vibes of Earth Based Body already give you a unique edge. Ride that plant-powered wave!
How do you envision the evolution of consumer preferences in the next 5–10 years?
We feel that the evolution of consumer preferences will lean more and more towards plant-based products and environmentally friendly options. As consciousness grows and innovation improves, there will be a continuous lineup of new options that will have to meet the demands of discerning shoppers.
What is your favorite plant-based product (not necessarily your own) and what makes it stand out? What can we all learn from the appeal of that product?
Based on your experience, what are some of the biggest myths or misconceptions people have about the plant-based industry? I think there are still a lot of assumptions when it comes to plant-based products. Within the beauty industry, there is a misconception that plant-based ingredients are not as effective as those created in a lab. The truth is that science always uses nature’s evolution as inspiration for their creations. The Sonoran Desert is our source of the most hydrating ingredients on Earth, including Jojoba, Desert Aloe, Prickly Pear Cactus, and Sonoran Lemons.
Developing and marketing plant-based products often involves unique challenges, from sourcing quality ingredients and sustainable packaging to building a brand that resonates with consumers. What strategies have you found most effective in overcoming these hurdles? Our challenge always revolves around sourcing. We use our energy footprint as our guide in the quest to find natural ingredients and sustainable packaging. Part of the success is having local farms that are near our production site. We source our Prickly Pear Cactus juice from Arizona Cactus Farm, just down the road. If we can’t source something in-state, we work to see where the closest supplier is located. We are also very cognizant of shipping options. If it takes more energy to ship large glass containers, we must measure what that impact is versus using recycled plastic or sugar cane packaging.
The plant-based market continues to evolve and grow. What advice can you offer to individuals looking to launch their own plant-based product businesses? Are there any critical lessons or insights you’ve gained along the way that you’d like to share with aspiring entrepreneurs in this field? Based on your experience can you please share your “5 Things You Need To Create A Successful Plant-Based Product Business”.
1 . Do the research and find out if there is white space in your category for a product that you’d like to introduce. If there are competitors in your space, find your point of difference and decide if you have the capacity to make the heavy educational lift to show how you are unique.
2 . Spend the time building relationships with your suppliers to be sure your packaging, ingredients, and any other unique components will be available on a consistent basis. We started with a lot of stock packaging and limited availability options that ended up costing time and money when they sold out or discontinued stock.
3 . As soon as you have formulations available, send them off to relevant agencies to secure certifications. When you have the certifications, be sure to add the icons to your packaging to build trust with these credibility markers.
4 . Start building your email list before your products are available for sale. Your early adaptors will probably be plant-based aficionados. They will be able to give you the vital insights that will make decision-making so much easier. They want you to succeed and they are invested in what you’re doing because they align with your values.
5 . Build the business the way you would like it to run in 5–10 years. When you build a strong foundation and set up your systems the right way the first time, you’ll end up saving lots of time and big money!
How does your business align with sustainability and ethics in the plant-based industry, and how does this alignment impact your brand’s success and customer trust?
Our business is all about making the best choices possible. On the ingredients side, we use only natural wild-sourced ingredients. We source local and work to make our energy footprint as small as possible. For our packaging, we use soy ink, recycled cardboard, and eco-tubes. And, from our values stance, our products are all-natural, vegan, and cruelty-free.
What certifications and regulations are essential for new plant-based brands to uphold their values as they grow? What certifications and regulations are essential for new plant-based brands to uphold their values as they grow?
Look into things like Vegan Society, Leaping Bunny (for cruelty-free), and USDA Organic for plant-based goodness. Regulations-wise, keeping an eye on cosmetic regulations is smart. As you grow, maintaining transparency and staying true to your values will keep you on the right track.
You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)
This is what we call our “matchmaker question”, and it sometimes works. Is there a person in the world whom you would love to have a power lunch with, and why? Maybe we can tag them and see what happens! I would love to pick Taylor Swift’s brain. It seems like every move she makes is very intentional while staying true to herself and her audience. Her success is so inspirational and I would love to know more about how she stays so connected to her fans.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
I would love for your readers to follow our story on Instagram at @earthbasedbody and learn more about our succulent skincare on our website, earthbasedbody.com.
Thank you for these really excellent insights, and we greatly appreciate the time you spent with this. We wish you continued success and good health!
About the Interviewer: Wanda Malhotra is a wellness entrepreneur, lifestyle journalist, and the CEO of Crunchy Mama Box, a mission-driven platform promoting conscious living. CMB empowers individuals with educational resources and vetted products to help them make informed choices. Passionate about social causes like environmental preservation and animal welfare, Wanda writes about clean beauty, wellness, nutrition, social impact and sustainability, simplifying wellness with curated resources. Join Wanda and the Crunchy Mama Box community in embracing a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle at CrunchyMamaBox.com .
