Ah, the sweet smell of glass bottles, carrier oils, and new ideas in pump bottles…
We've been so busy in the mix, we barely noticed it's been 7 years since we first dipped into the world of bulk packaging and raw materials. But while Craft 360 is aging gracefully, the skincare brands we supply are keeping your glow ageless.
From the pre-early days of juggling ideas in our living room (still do that), and shipping out of our backyard shed (a.k.a. our "first warehouse"), we've come a long way.
We’ve supplied thousands of small businesses and entrepreneurs across Australia with wholesale cosmetic raw materials and packaging to create their own magic. We've seen trends come and go, launched products that flew off the virtual shelves (and some that, well, didn’t), and learned a lifetime’s worth of lessons.
So, whether you're here with a skincare business plan in your pocket looking for tips or just came for the juicy details, stay with us.
Let's chat about the 7 lessons in our 7 years of business. No jargon, no stiff corporate talk—just a friendly, down-to-earth conversation about what’s worked for us, what hasn’t, and everything in between.
1. Start Simple, Fail Fast, Learn Faster
When starting out, it's natural to have a million ideas going through your head (we sure did). We guess that's why marketers developed the Product Idea Validation framework. It looks something like this:
Going through the validating process might be disheartening if you’re emotionally attached to your product or offering, but it pays off with money, time and effort down the line.
Some ideas, no matter how much you love them, just won’t make it past step four. And that’s okay! The key is to stay flexible and not let the validation process crush your entrepreneurial spirit.
We’ve had to shelve a few of our darlings, but those decisions ultimately freed us up to focus on the winners.
Trying to do it all at once is like trying to carry all your groceries in one trip. Something’s bound to drop (good luck if it's the eggs)!
We quickly realized that it’s better to start simple. Focus on one product, get it right, gather feedback, and then scale up. Whether it’s the perfect glass bottle or a silky smooth shea butter, mastering one thing before expanding makes the entire process more manageable and successful.
Plus, it’s way easier to market a single standout product than a dozen mediocre ones.
2. Avoid Overheads, Avoid Overheads, Avoid Overheads
Fancy offices with bean bags and coffee machines are cooool. But saying ‘cooool’ when you step in on a Monday morning with a million invoices left unfilled won't help your business stay afloat during those tough early years.
We’ve seen too many promising businesses crumble under the weight of unnecessary overheads.
Before you sign that lease, or take on any expense you’re unsure of consider these thoughts:
💭Can this be done from home, or do I really need a separate space?
💭Is this expense truly essential for my business’s growth?
💭What additional costs will this decision bring in the long run?
💭Where can I strategically cut overhead without compromising quality?
💭How will this impact my cash flow and financial flexibility?
In the early days, we kept our overheads as low as possible. We worked from home, storing products wherever we could fit them (yes, even in the closet), and avoiding long-term commitments like leases.
Our advice? Work from the roof you have. If you need more space, get creative. You can rent a small storage unit, explore low-cost options like 3PL, or team up with a local business for a shared space. Keeping costs low means more money stays in your pocket, helping your business thrive instead of just surviving.
Having that cash flow edge will help you in times of panic, taking some stress out of business.
3. Not Every Customer Suggestion is a Golden Ticket
Customers are great, ours are the best.
They keep us on our toes, give us feedback, inspire our next products - and are the entire reasons your business exists in the first place.
But as great as they are, not every suggestion will be a winner.
We’ve learned this the hard way after launching products based on customer recommendations that, well, didn’t exactly fly off the shelves.
Instead of jumping at every idea, we now rely on data—search trends, social media buzz, and actual sales figures—to guide our decisions.
Take feedback seriously, but remember to make choices that align with your vision and goals. It’s your business—steer it in the direction that's best for you.
With that being said, don't forget to always address and resolve customer complaints.
According to Lee Resource, for every one customer who voices a complaint, 26 others suffer in silence with the same issue.
4. Stay Focused and Keep a Clear Plan (Even If That Plan Involves a Lot of Coffee)
Whether you're supplying raw material and cosmetic packaging in Australia or running a dog grooming shop in the corner, business is business. And it gets hectic.
Having a clear plan to guide you in those “Ooh, shiny object!” moments are crucial. It’s like having a map on a road trip. You might take a few detours, but you’ll always find your way back to the main route.
It's better to update your plan regularly than to have none. A single business plan for life isn't sustainable and doesn't allow for growth from lessons learned.
5. Keep Control of Your Business (Don’t Let It Control You)
There’s nothing like the thrill of seeing orders roll in, but sometimes that excitement can lead you astray.
Early on, we got caught up in a Google Ads frenzy, pulling in lots of low-value orders. It felt great to see the volume, but when we crunched the numbers, we realized it wasn’t sustainable. We paused, recalibrated, and eventually outsourced our ads to focus on higher-value orders that made more sense for our business.
The takeaway? Always keep a firm grip on your business, making sure it aligns with your values and goals.
6. Know When to Keep Your Side Hustle a Side Hustle
Side hustles are awesome... until they start demanding your home's mortgage payment.
Some ideas are perfect as small, enjoyable projects that bring in a little extra cash. If scaling means sacrificing the joy or profitability of your hustle, it might be better to keep it on the side.
There’s no shame in maintaining a fulfilling, smaller-scale operation if it brings you happiness and value.
7. Competitors Aren’t Always as Successful as They Seem
Back to the basics here: The grass is not always greener on the other side.
It’s easy to look at your competitors and feel a pang of envy. Take it from us. We once opened a retail store because a competitor did, thinking it was the magic bullet for growth.
Spoiler alert: it wasn’t.
Years later, we learned that they, too, were struggling, and we’d spent too long chasing a mirage.
The lesson? Don’t base your decisions on what others seem to be doing. Focus on your own strategy, research, and feedback, and always trust your gut.
There you have it. Seven lessons from seven years of navigating the ins and outs of bulk packaging and raw materials.
From bulk carrier oils to castile soap, from bottles to fine mist atomizers, we’ve had a blast growing our business and learning along the way.
We hope our missteps have sparked some ideas on how to avoid your own! Don’t forget to share which tip resonated with you the most, or tell us about your own “aha” moments that turned into valuable lessons.