4 HEALTH RETAIL OPPORTUNITIES TO BOOST YOUR SALES

Posted on May 27, 2021May 27, 2021 by Sara Keli

There is no doubt that the face of retail in Australia is evolving. There are hurdles to overcome… but there are also many opportunities, particularly for those in the booming health retail space.

Our Unique Health Products Sales Reps are on the road meeting with retailers every day. This gives them incredible insights into the current state of retail across a broad range of categories.

One of those Sales Reps is Laura Collins. A qualified Nutritionist, Laura has been on the Unique team for more than seven years. She knows health retail inside and out and has her finger on the pulse for what’s trending in the industry.

So we sat down with Laura to get her take on the key opportunities for natural, organic, fair-trade and eco-friendly retail today.

1. CAPITALISE ON MARKET GROWTH

In recent years, the way consumers look at health has changed. Not only is the definition of health much broader, covering everything from immunity to wellness, mindfulness and lifestyle elements of health, but it is also more mainstream.

“There is an understanding and acceptance now that health food doesn’t just belong in a health food store ,” explains Laura. “Health food often has higher margins and offers consumers a point of difference. More and more grocery, pharmacy and other specialty retailers are taking on health food products in a big way.”

There are also a number of consumer trends that are driving this mainstream shift. Plant-based eating is on the rise, as are low-carb, low-sugar and keto diets. Consumers are also far more savvy about the sustainability of products and they are actively seeking out eco-friendly options.

“Consumers are looking to brands like Ethique to reduce their reliance on plastic, or RXBAR for their super clean and transparent ingredients lists. There is so much opportunity for retailers to capitalise on.”

2. INTEGRATE YOUR SHELVES

The traditional approach to health food in Australia has been segregation. But Laura argues that integration is the future. It’s an approach that has seen much success in the USA and UK. It’s what customers want… and it’s also good for business.

“A lot of grocery stores have a health or gourmet section, but this can be quite limiting,” explains Laura. “In this case, only consumers who believe they can afford it head to that section. However, if your shelves are integrated and the health products sit alongside the rest of your range, you give customers more choice.

“I worked with some grocery stores in Sydney to integrate. The result was higher sales for those health products compared to similar stores in the same area that took a segregation approach. Where it makes sense to do so, weaving the products through the shelves can train the customer to purchase differently. Otherwise, you could be missing out on potential sales.”

Integration is better for sales and it’s also a better customer experience. By integrating all the options, from private label through to premium health brands, customers can make a simple decision without having to snake around different aisles.

3. EMBRACE NOOTROPICS AND ADAPTOGENS

Laura also asserts that the products with a hugely promising future are those with functional ingredients such as nootropics and adaptogens.

“We are an increasingly stressed society and consumers are looking for products to help their health and immunity. Natural alternatives to help with these concerns are increasingly popular. Adaptogens – such as rhodiola or siberian ginseng – can be really helpful. People can have vitamin deficiencies but also mineral deficiencies so mineral rich supplements such as Evolution Botanicals Himalayan Shilajit or Supercharged Food Fulvic Humic Concentrate are popular.

We haven’t even scratched the surface on nootropics in Australia but these ingredients may help with focus, productivity and reducing brain fog.”

4. OFFER HEALTHY SNACKING

Keto and healthy snacks are two categories that Laura can see have a big future in the Australian market. With the popularity of keto diets and consumers reaching for convenience, brands and products that combine the two, such as Keto Naturals, HeroCup or VitaWerx, are ones you want to have on your shelves.

“Anything keto and any healthy, clean snacks are huge in health retail right now,” says Laura. “Consumers are looking for the convenience of being able to reach for snacks and products that they know are good for them. Other wellness products such as The Ginger People Ginger Shots and Alchemy Elixirs are also popular.

“Consumers are looking for products that offer a boost to their health and that’s what our range of brands and products can offer.”

YOUR TRUSTED ADVISOR IN HEALTH RETAIL

At Unique Health Products we distribute hundreds of health and wellness brands across Australia. Whether you are trying to reach new customer segments or have existing customers crying out for more natural, organic, fair-trade and eco-friendly products, we stock the best. You can shop online with us 24/7 here, or call our friendly sales team on 1800 787 904. If you don’t have a wholesale account with us yet, you can register for one here.

5 NATURAL BEAUTY TRENDS FOR 2021

Posted on April 29, 2021 by Sara Keli

In their Future of Beauty Report, Nielsen identified natural beauty and skincare as key drivers for the future of the industry. Mintel called it a “Beauty Eco-lution” that is driven by eco-ethical and conscious purchasing decisions.

But the natural beauty market is as diverse as it is fast-growing. It has almost twice the predicted CAGR of the beauty market as a whole! In the plethora of products available, there are key natural beauty trends that are driving the growth.

Here are the five key natural beauty trends you should know to have your finger on the pulse for your eco-conscious customers.

1) CRUELTY FREE

According to What’s New in Healthy Products, consumers are starting to consider vegan and cruelty-free credentials as a baseline requirement for skincare brands.

ACURE is a brand that is leading the market in highly innovative and effective skincare that also adheres to its vegan and cruelty-free values. For ACURE this means no animal-testing, ever, and drawing on powerful super nutrients for skin wellness.

From Facial Scrubs to Cleansing Gels, Face Masks, Serums, Moisturisers, Treatments, Oils and more, every product in the ACURE range is 100% vegan.

2) ZERO WASTE

Plastic packaging – and more specifically plastic packaging winding up in landfill – is an undeniable issue facing our planet. Since 1960, the amount of plastic packaging used in the USA has increased over 120 times. While this figure isn’t limited to the beauty industry, globally, the beauty and personal care industry accounts for more than AUD $30 billion in plastic packaging sales.

Ethique is an impressively-sustainable brand playing an active role in reducing plastic packaging. The brand and products are 100% plastic free. In fact, Ethique has saved more than 6.5 million plastic bottles from entering landfill with their sustainable paper packaging, compostable Storage Containers, Concentrates and Solid Beauty Bars.

While Ethique started with Shampoo Bars, there are now Solid Face Cleansers, Solid Face Scrubs, Solid Face Serums as well as a range of home, pet, hair and body care bars.

Another brand providing zero-waste solutions is Ever Eco. Their passion for eradicating single-use plastics started with the humble drinking straw and has now extended to include a beauty range. Beauty products include Reusable Bamboo Facial Pads to replace single-use cotton pads as well as Muslin Facial Cloths and Konjac Facial Sponges.

Functional and bioactive ingredients - natural beauty trends

3) FUNCTIONAL AND BIOACTIVE INGREDIENTS

As much as functional ingredients are driving food trends, they are also a force in natural beauty trends.

Functional and bioactive ingredients have been used for centuries in traditional medicine, and now the natural beauty industry is embracing the transformational power of nature.

Dr Organic doesn’t just use bioactive ingredients. Their ranges are each built around a powerful bioactive to ensure each product is truly functional. Whether it is Organic Aloe Vera, Activated Charcoal, Organic Hemp Oil, Organic Manuka Honey, Organic Reishi or one of the other many bioactives in the range, every product is designed to draw on the power of nature to get serious skin results.

ACURE is another brand that uses functional ingredients such as ashwagandha, reishi, holy basil, cordyceps and melatonin. Despite their use of quality, effective plant-based bioactives and functional ingredients, they are incredibly accessible and affordable for the everyday consumer looking to ‘clean up’ their beauty routine.

4) BEAUTY FROM WITHIN

In line with the food as medicine trend, there are an increasing number of beauty supplements focusing on nourishing skin from within with the idea that beauty starts on the inside.

Supercharged Food, known for their Love Your Gut Powders and Capsules, has recently launched the Earth and Sea Beauty Capsules. The capsules contain a blend of silica, iodine and iron. The 100% Australian-sourced silica may aid in collagen production for healthy hair, skin and nails. The iodine in the blend is sourced from Tasmanian kelp and may help to repair damaged skin cells.

5) SHEET MASKS

Sheet masks are certainly a trend that is here to stay! The natural beauty trend for sheet masks is in natural and organic ingredients and eco-friendly materials.

Orgaid produced the world’s first organic sheet mask. They use the patented Ecoderma sheet mask fabric along with organic ingredients and scientifically-backed formulations to create highly-effective sheet masks.

The Orgaid sheet mask range includes three varieties – Anti-aging & Moisturizing, Vitamin C & Revitalizing and Greek Yogurt & Nourishing.

BRING NATURAL BEAUTY TRENDS TO YOUR CUSTOMERS

You can find each of these brands and their trending products – plus many more – in the Unique Health Products online store. You can shop online 24/7, or call our friendly sales team on 1800 787 904. If you don’t yet have an account with us, you can register for one here.

ETHIQUE CONCENTRATES – A PLASTIC-FREE ALTERNATIVE

Posted on November 30, 2020November 30, 2020 by Larina Robinson

Australia’s love affair with plastic is showing no signs of abating. According to the Federal Government’s 2018-19 National Report of the Australian Plastics Recycling Survey, our national plastic consumption has hit an all-time peak of 3,435,200 tonnes.

But all is not lost. Powerhouse brand Ethique is on a mission to save more than 50 million plastic bottles from landfill by 2025. So far, with their range of bars they have saved 8 million plastic bottles, and with their newly launched range of Ethique Concentrates, they are well on their way to reaching their goal… transforming household and cosmetic products in the process.

The new plastic-free revolution

Ethique has been shaping the plastic-free movement since 2012. But not everyone likes bars or is prepared to try them.

Enter Concentrates. A new alternative for consumers who favour traditional liquid products yet want to reduce their plastic consumption.

The Concentrates range includes hair care, bodywash, body lotion, handwash and household concentrates. Similar to the Ethique bars, the ingredients are naturally derived and sustainably sourced. They are certified vegan, cruelty free, palm oil-free and 100% plastic free.

Using the Concentrates couldn’t be simpler.

Open the compostable cardboard box. Snap the concentrate into small pieces in a heatproof bowl and pour over hot water.
Whisk until the solution is melted. Set aside to cool for five minutes.
Pour into an existing bottle and use as you normally would.

Concentrate on the benefits

Concentrates are refillables done differently. The fact is that most of the products these Concentrates replace – handwashes, body lotions, cleaning sprays etc. – are made from up to 98% water.

Not only are the plastic bottles they come in ending up in landfill, they are unnecessarily using precious water.

Each Concentrate saves 700ml of water. Consider the amount a single person would use over a year across the range and those water savings add up! That’s in addition to one less plastic bottle being manufactured and entering landfill per Concentrate.

These products are effective and environmentally friendly.

QUICK FAQs

What are Concentrates?

Concentrates are a new range from leading natural and plastic-free brand, Ethique. Once the Concentrates are diluted in water, the liquid can be used like any other liquid cleaning and cosmetic products.

Which products are in the Concentrates range?

The range includes hair care, bodywash, body lotion, handwash and household products.

What is the difference between Ethique bars and Concentrates?

The bars and Concentrates use different product formulations. If you try to use the Concentrates in the same way you would a bar, it will not work. Likewise, if you try to dilute the bars into liquid they will go mouldy very quickly. Both products are natural and sustainable but the Concentrates offer an alternative for people who don’t like using bars or who want a natural, plastic-free alternative to household cleaners.

Are the ingredients natural?

As with the rest of the Ethique range, the ingredients are 100% naturally derived, ethically sourced and sustainable. You also won’t find any petrochemical derivatives, parabens and synthetic fragrances in any of the Concentrates.

How long will the product last once made up?

Once the Concentrate has been diluted for use, it has a six month shelf life when stored in a suitable container with a lid.

What can the diluted Concentrate be stored in?

The beauty of Concentrates is they allow the reuse of an existing container, saving more plastic waste. Any clean vessel will do – an old drink bottle, a glass jar or anything with a lid.

Do the Concentrates contain preservatives?

The diluted Concentrates can safely last for six months because they contain preservatives – namely a combination of benzyl alcohol and dehydroacetic acid. Due to the volume of water in the diluted products, the preservatives prevent harmful microorganisms from forming.

Ready to help your customers give plastic the flick? Order the entire Ethique range online now via our shop or contact our friendly sales team on 1800 787 904. Haven’t yet registered for a wholesale account with us? You can do so here.

5 EMERGING TRENDS IN NATURAL HEALTH!

Posted on October 29, 2020March 29, 2021 by Larina Robinson

There’s an overarching theme emerging from this year’s events and it comes as no surprise — it revolves around preventative health, in particular, supporting the immune system. Aside from this, consumers are demanding even more from natural health brands and continue to seek out products developed with both a conscious and a specific purpose. Here are the top 5 emerging trends in natural health today:

1. SUPPLEMENTS

Nutrition Business Journal estimates that sales of cold, flu and immunity supplements alone will reach $5.2 billion this year, with growth of 51.2% over 2019. The new awareness of immunity offers supplements an opportunity to be seen as more of a year-round
regimen than a seasonal response. Star ingredients in hot demand include pre and probiotics thanks to the increasing awareness around gut health and immunity. According to Mintel, the number of internet searches for gut health grew 669% last year!

2. HIGH-PERFORMANCE BEAUTY

The global natural and organic personal care market is expected to grow even faster than food – at a compound annual growth rate of 11.1% by 2026. But consumers are now looking for natural beauty products that go one step further than just “simple” and
“clean”. Technologically advanced, high-performing functional products are becoming more popular. The key to success is stocking a range of brands that are natural, trustworthy, transparent, and offer a point of difference with their chosen functional ingredients ie. vitamin C for anti-ageing and calendula to calm and soothe.

3. PLANET OVER PERSONAL GAIN

More and more consumers are moving from individual-centric to planet-centric decision making. They are increasingly aware of and
concerned about sustainability issues and want the brands they trust to take appropriate actions to help reduce their impact. This spans across ingredient sourcing, packaging materials and actively giving back to charities and organisations making a difference.
The rising demand for locally sourced and Australian made products has also come to the forefront of late as consumers look
to support businesses closer to home. 90% of Australians aged 14+ say they are more likely to buy products made in Australia!

4. FUNCTIONAL BEVERAGES

A growing number of consumers are looking to adjust their drinking habits by seeking out better-for-you options. Conscious
of excessive sugar intake and searching for products that do more than just hydrate, the functional beverage trend is gaining rapid
momentum. 80% of consumers in a recent FMCG survey said they were planning to eat and drink more healthily because of the recent pandemic. In particular, consumers are looking for drinks that will help support their immune system with drinks high in vitamin C, omega 3s and other ingredients for immune health.

5. INGREDIENTS FOR DIY CREATIONS

Stress, anxiety and a strong desire to boost wellbeing and get a ‘feel good’ hit at home, has consumers increasingly eager to create their own home and personal care products such as face masks and cleaning products. Combined with a 44% increase in screen time and the popularity of DIY on social media, this trend offers consumers a triple-whammy ‘feel good’ effect thanks to a feeling of belonging, enjoying a personalised experience, and active participation in more sustainable consumerism.

Unique Health Products is home to many of the world’s biggest health and wellness brands. With more than 3,800 products in our warehouse, you can rest assured, if it’s trending, a top seller, or a product simply worth stocking on your shelves – we’ll have it! Ready to place an order? You can shop online with us 24/7 here, or call our friendly sales team on 1800 787 904. If you don’t have a wholesale account with us yet, you can register for one here.

Sources: Play Market Research, 2020. Roy Morgan, 2019.

OUR BRANDS IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Posted on September 25, 2020April 28, 2021 by Larina Robinson

At Unique, our extensive range of products are handpicked by our switched-on Products Acquisition Team for quality ingredients and capacity to sell.

We know internally via our sales reports that our products sell well but it’s always so nice to see our brands get the recognition they deserve via media outlets and industry awards. Here are some of our brands making headlines in the last few months!

SAFIX BIODEGRADABLE SCRUB PADS

Safix received a five-star rating on Consumer (New Zealand’s version of Choice) for their biodegradable Scrubbing Pads. See the full article here!

ETHIQUE SOLID BEAUTY BARS

Ethique is featured in Marie Claire as part of a plastic-free beauty brand round up. See the full article here!

LAKANTO LOW CALORIE NATURAL SWEETENER

Lakanto was a finalist in both Start-up of the Year and Retail Product of the Year for the annual Food and Beverage Awards. See the full list of the Food and Beverage Awards finalists and winners here!

PATCH BAMBOO WOUNDCARE

PATCH was featured on Naturally Good News discussing their story of success and how the natural adhesive bandages are giving traditional wound coverings ‘a run for their money’. Read the full article here!

ALAFFIA AFRICAN BLACK SOAP

Alaffia is a socially conscious organization that handcrafts all-natural bath, body and hair care derived from fair trade shea butter, coconut oil and African black soap. In an exclusive interview with HELLOBEAUTIFUL, Alaffia founder and CEO, Olowo-n’djo Tchala, really delved into the motivation and the mental behind the brand. Read the inspiring article here.

THE WHOLE BOODIES ZESTY DEODORANT

The Whole Boodies Zesty Deodorant is a multi-award winning deodorant that took out the inaugural WellBeing Be-YOU-T Award for best deodorant. See the full list of winners here!

UPTON’S NATURALS CH’EESY MAC READY MEALS

Upton’s Naturals Ch’eesy Mac was featured in Taste.com.au Magazine, July 2020.

We’re thrilled for all our innovative, award-winning brands that are getting the recognition they deserve. With a curated portfolio of more than 3,800 products from a selection of local and international health and wellness brands, Unique is your one-stop-shop for all things natural health. Order your stock online 24/7 or give our friendly sales team a call on 1800 787 904. If you need to register for a wholesale account with us, you can do so here.

SELF-CARE: THE $450 BILLION OPPORTUNITY

Posted on August 28, 2020 by Larina Robinson

The art of self-care has been around for centuries. While the methods may have changed and broadened over the years, the goal of each practice has remained the same – calm the nervous system, feel good and nurture health and wellbeing.

So many self-care practices that were once considered ‘alternative’ have now infiltrated our daily lives and are widely accepted i.e. yoga and meditation.

88% of consumers actively practice some form of self-care.

But thanks to social media and the internet, the self-care industry is a vast space, wide open for individual interpretation and implementation. Even a person’s morning coffee ritual can be considered a form of self-care.

There are more than 25 million posts on Instagram tagged with #selfcare!

Whether it’s a face mask, meditation, breathing technique, home fragrance, diet plan, tea break, bedtime routine or skincare ritual. There’s an option to suit everybody and it’s a retail opportunity, which according to IRi reports, that’s worth a whopping $450 billion!

MEN’S SELF CARE: Self-care is not only for women either! Allied Market Research projects that the global market for men’s personal care will reach $166 billion by 2022. Skin and body care, in particular, are becoming more socially acceptable thanks to admired celebrities sharing their own routines and innovative marketing campaigns creating discussion.

In order to harness maximum sales growth, brands and retailers must think outside of the traditional, narrowly defined category and take a far broader approach. Taking the time to understand how each retail category can fit within this benefit-based, solution-oriented space is a strategic move that has the potential to totally transform your sales performance.

Showcase a diverse range of self-care related items instore with some of the Unique team’s top picks:

Left to right: Wheatbags Love, Amazing Oils, Bach Remedies, Evodia, Lemon Myrtle Fragrances, Harmony’s Ear Candles, Dr Organic Ginseng Men’s range.

Left to right: The Ginger People, Bragg Live Foods, Botanika Blends, Ministry of Tea.

Left to right: Orgaid, Ethique, ACURE, Aztec Secret.

Unique Health Products distributes an extensive range of top-selling, all-natural self-care items nationwide. You can order online 24/7 via our online shop or give one of our friendly sales team members a call on 1800 787 904! If you haven’t registered for a wholesale account, you can do so here.

BRANDS THAT MADE AN IMPACT IN MAY

Posted on June 4, 2020December 7, 2020 by Larina Robinson

At Unique Health Products, we’re always proud to see the brands we distribute in the media.

We stand by every product we stock and love celebrating when our brands have received well deserved praise and recognition from various media platforms.

Here are some of our most popular products spotted in the media last month.

WELEDA

Skin Food

Mammamia

“I’ve started using Skin Food on my face at nights and it’s a game-changer for dry winter skin.”

BRAGG

Apple Cider Vinegar

Sarah’s Day Instagram Story

Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar spotted in the popular Australian Influencer’s fridge. Sarah has more than 1.1 million followers!

ACURE

Brilliantly Brightening Facial Scrub

Buzzfeed

“It really works! In eight days my skin was almost back to normal and it felt clean as can be!”

ACURE

Radically Rejuvenating Facial Scrub

Yahoo!

“With over 5,300 ratings and 4.4 stars, ACURE’s Radically Rejuvenating Facial Scrub has become a cult-favorite among beauty enthusiasts.”

BRAGG

Apple Cider Vinegar

Food Navigator

“Bragg Live Food Products sees apple cider vinegar sales surge… Global sales will climb at a 5.4% compound annual growth rate from 2020 to 2025”.

DR ORGANIC

Organic Manuka Honey Face Mask

Marie Claire UK

“I love the smell of honey, but it’s actually a really effective, deep cleansing mask.”

CLIF BAR

CLIF Bars

Women’s Health

“I am always looking for little things that are easy to bring on-the-go,” she says. “Clif Bars are great when I’m super busy; they are small-but-mighty and fill me up quickly.” – Venus Williams.

venus-williams-clif-bar — Image from Venus Williams’ Instagram page announcing ambassador role.

ETHIQUE

Beauty Bars

You Beauty

“Brianne started a personal care brand that has more ethical labels than Meryl Streep has Oscars”

HELLO CUP

Hello Cup

You Beauty

“Best friends and self-titled girl bosses Robyn McLean and Mary Bond founded Hello Cup to help stop the disposal of 45 billion tampons and single-use sanitary pads into landfills each year.”

For these great brands and the latest trends in natural health including pantry staples, snacks, grab n’ go meals, beauty, home cleaning and eco-friendly living, register for a wholesale account with us today!

Our product acquisition team screens all our items against strict criteria and standards so that you can rest assured each product has been screened for effectiveness, contains natural and/or organic ingredients, is free from unwanted additives, and in the case of food, is vegetarian or vegan and has a tempting taste to suit a variety of diets!

Already have an account? Great! Head on over to our online store and stock up your shelves. We’ve just dropped a range of new products for June!

THE ZERO-WASTE, FEMALE-FOUNDED, SOLID BEAUTY BAR BRAND CHANGING THE WAY YOU SHOWER

Posted on May 14, 2020May 14, 2020 by Larina Robinson

Ethique is an earth-friendly, ethical beauty brand that has pioneered a concentrated, solid beauty bar range to cut out plastic and water waste.

Established in 2012 when biologist and founder, Brianne West had a lightbulb moment. West “realized up to 75 percent of shampoo and even 90 percent of conditioner can be water…which is madness, when there is water in your bathroom!”.

With the beauty industry producing so much plastic waste and the major ingredient in most liquid products being water, it made sense to concentrate the active ingredients into simple and sustainable products that deliver on results, without the packaging.

Each solid beauty bar is equivalent to multiple bottles of the same liquid product. This means on average, every bar saves just under 1L of water and up to 5 plastic bottles!

Fast forward to today and Ethique is stocked in over 2,500 stores in 17 countries, has a loyal 200k+ social media following and has saved more than 6 million plastic bottles from entering landfill!

The extensive range is:

Plastic free
Biodegradable
Plant based
Sustainably made
Cruelty free
Salon quality
Made with ethically sourced, naturally-derived ingredients
Wrapped in compostable packaging
Affordably priced

A no-compromise brand, Ethique is focused on the goal to become the world’s most sustainable cosmetics company. Currently, they are NZ’s highest-scoring BCorp (the fair trade symbol of the business world) as well as both a carbon-neutral and a living wage employer.

Sales are driven by their completely plastic-free stance, eye-catching certified compostable packaging, clean, vegan-friendly ingredients, and word of mouth advertising about the efficacy of the bars. As well as features in top-rated publications including Forbes, BBC, and Business Insider.

It’s no wonder it is the highest-rated, fastest-selling shampoo and conditioner brand on Amazon!

Ethique truly is natural beauty without a trace, but thanks to its impressive ethics and sustainability efforts, it’s a brand that is definitely making its mark.

Ethique products are available nationwide from all good natural health stores and online, and exclusively distributed through Unique Health Products! RRPs start from as little as $9.95. Eco-friendly bamboo storage solutions and trial packs for face, hair and body are also available!

To order your stock, simply jump into our online store or give our friendly sales team a call on 1800 787 904. Don’t yet have an account with us? Register here!