SUPPLIER PROFILE
Passing the self-test
You know a product is good when several hundred thousand TikTokkers can’ t stop talking about it mere months after its launch. But for Spiliopoulos, Arthur and Rugolo, the most difficult and rigorous testing phase happened before Lash Therapy even went to market.
“ Because of COVID, we had so much time to research and formulate something unique,” explains Spiliopoulos.“ We really researched what we’ d want to put into our lash serum to make it work the best for us and it had to be all natural. Jess [ Arthur ] was our main guinea pig because of her sensitive skin!”
Behind the testing is true passion and respect for each other and the community.“ We like to make sure we love and use the product just as much as anyone else would,” says Rugolo.“ That’ s why we always trial them first ourselves, because we want everyone to love them the same way we do.”
The serum is formulated with advanced polypeptides and safe, naturally occurring ingredients like collagen and pumpkin seed extract to increase the volume, length and thickness of your lashes and brows, with effective, proven results.
“ Getting natural beauty with natural products is so important to us and we know it’ s important to our customers,” adds Arthur.
Celebrating natural beauty
COVID gave Spiliopoulos, Arthur and Rugolo the opportunity to create their business, but it also gave them the chance to learn to love themselves. Since then, self love and acceptance have become key to their daily lives – and their business.
“ I never saw a day I’ d be getting my lash extensions off and then COVID hit and I had no choice,” explains Rugolo.“ I’ ve realised that I love the way I look with my natural lashes so much more. It definitely was a positive change for [ all of ] us to embrace our natural features.”
Wanting to share this body-positive stance drives the founding trio to keep honing and improving their products.
“ As young women, we’ ve been through all of the different ups and downs with body image and growing to love ourselves, just like our customers,” adds Spiliopoulos.“ Now that we have our own business in that space, we really try and push towards that and make everyone feel comfortable in their own skin.”
An essential part of their business plan involves researching beauty trends and customer needs to ensure their products continually evolve – combining community needs with scientific development.
“ That movement towards natural beauty and growing your natural lashes [ is ] a huge reason for the success of our products, because people are opting to have that natural look and the alternative to false ones is getting a lash serum and growing your lashes – and also our brow products too,” Spiliopoulos explains.
“ All of our products go with current beauty trends – it sort of naturally happened that way,” adds Arthur.“ These are the products we wanted, and being young women as well, we just want what everyone else wants, so it’ s worked out well.”
Partnering with Costco
According to beauty buyer Rafaella Grech, Costco has had its eye on Lash Therapy for a while.“ They dominate their specific category in the Australian market and the products are so effective,” Grech enthuses.”[ Lash Therapy ] was founded to fill the gap of effective, natural lash growth products and the products are all cruelty free and suitable for members with sensitive skin, which we also love.”
The love is mutual. Lash Therapy’ s founders are all Costco members and shop in-warehouse regularly. So it was a dream come true to see their products on sale during a visit to their local warehouse in Melbourne.
“ We’ re so happy to align with a brand that’ s so massive worldwide and globally recognised,” explains Arthur.“ It was such a huge milestone for us. We took a photo [ of our first items in the warehouse ] and we view it as such an amazing moment.”
It was the success of that first collaboration that spurred on the current partnership – with a Costco-sized twist of course!
“ This is our second rotation into the brand, changing the item from a lash serum and mascara to a lash serum and brow serum,” Grech explains.“ Since its success last time, Lash Therapy has created a bespoke-size serum that is exclusive to Costco.”
“ Having the jumbo pack will last a bit longer and offer people more value,” adds Spiliopoulos.“ I know I always love to stock up on products at Costco, so knowing that it’ s bigger is so tempting to me!”
COURTESY OF LASH THERAPY
And what’ s next for Spiliopoulos, Arthur and Rugolo? They have some ideas.“ We’ re always looking into the future and there’ s always room for improvement in any business,” says Rugolo.“ But our dream is to be in Costco America. A lot of our customers are from the United States and they’ re begging for it – so we just need to make that happen.”
“ We’ re such a young business – Lash Therapy is just about to turn three – so I feel like the world is our oyster still,” adds Arthur.“ There’ s so much opportunity, it’ s exciting.”
Jiyan Dessens is a health and lifestyle journalist and the editor of the Connection.
16 | NOV / DEC 2023 COSTCO CONNECTION