Tell us about DU’IT.
DU’IT is a range of skincare products catering to the hand, feet, face and baby category, that are renowned for providing rapid relief and exceptional healing results. The products are based on the highest efficacy, quality ingredients that contain no harsh chemicals or irritants, that appeal to everyone whilst also catering to sensitive skin and people with diabetes.
At the heart of the brand, our missions is to provide safe, unique, and high quality products, that are backed with the assurances of efficacy, innovation and scientific testing. Our DU’IT products are available in all leading pharmacy (Chemist Warehouse, Priceline and independent pharmacies) and grocery chains (Woolworths and Coles) as well as globally across 8 different countries.
What inspired you to start DU’IT?
I used to work with elderly people in hospital who had a lot of issues with their feet and nothing was working.
Seeing their discomfort was agonising and I was getting increasing frustrated with the beautifully packaged products we trialled which promised the world, but didn’t solve the issues.
That passion led me to develop a product that worked and we spent months working with pharmacists and specialists to perfect a foot and heel balm, before trialling on friends and family.
It was so rewarding to see the results the product drove, from 10 to 90 years old, and we promised ourselves there and then we would reach as many people as possible with the product. It was a massive financial risk. We had 2 young children, who are sat here today, and had to leave 2 steady and successful careers to back this completely.
Family and friends were voicing concerns, but we believed 100% in the product, which meant putting everything we had into it. Failure was not an option. Unlike bigger brands, we didn’t have the luxury of writing off products, this was truly all or nothing.
During the first few years, this involved working all hours under the sun, packing boxes in our garage, calling on retail stores, doing face to face promos and high-fiving every time an order came through. Everyone was roped in to help, from the children to the grandparents.
We had many stressful days, but we were always optimistic that our passion and vision for formulating unsurpassed quality products would pay off.
From there DU’IT was born, which today has evolved into an internationally renowned skincare brand.
Tell us about your career and background.
I’m the Co-founder of DU’IT, with a Bachelor of Science degree. With over 10 years experience working in Hospitals (Children’s Hospital Glebe and Balmain Hospital) and more than 20 years in the FMCG and direct sales industry, I’ve always worked closely with podiatrists/Diabetes Educators and Dermatologists.
My passion has always been about helping people improve their lives, and it was that passion that drove me to develop DU’IT to deliver results that people can trust.
Describe a typical day for you.
We usually start in the office a bit later than most people, as we tend to work late into the evening. Our day starts off with answering emails and phone calls, and then a lot of the day is spent managing various stakeholders, overseeing sales and logistics, marketing and then there is always meetings. Looking at it more broadly, our role is to ensure that we are always moving towards achieving our vision.
What advice do you have for those wanting to start a business?
Be brave, persevere and follow your passions!
If you have the drive to succeed then the rest will follow. Surround yourself with like-minded people who all bring something different to the table, and make sure that they are beside you on your business journey.
Always listen to your customers, because you can always keep learning. And lastly, always celebrate your wins, no matter how small they are. Because each win, no matter how small, takes you one step closer to achieving your goal.
What’s next for you, and DU’IT?
Our worldwide reach is growing every day and we aim to continue building our brand and sales both locally and internationally.
China is also a big focus for us, and we aim to increase our market share by identifying additional sales channels and strengthening our brand.
Find out more about the DU’IT range here: https://duit.com.au
