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As a part of the Morning Lazziness sequence highlighting empowering ladies who’re making a outstanding impression with their concepts, I had the pleasure of interviewing Kristyn Need.
Joyful Bear is an Australian-born wellness model on a mission to make on a regular basis care slightly kinder, safer, and happier for households in every single place. Based in Sydney by Kristyn Need, Joyful Bear started in 2023 when Kristyn, a mum of two, struggled to discover a light, non-toxic hand sanitiser that labored for her toddler and rising household.
Decided to create an answer, Kristyn developed a foaming sanitiser that mixes 99.999% germ-killing energy with a method that’s protected, delicate, and joyful to make use of — free from harsh alcohol and designed for everybody, from toddlers to grandparents.
What began as one mum’s seek for higher household hygiene has grown right into a motion for on a regular basis wellness. Right now, Joyful Bear is greater than a sanitiser: it’s peace of thoughts in a bottle, a easy ritual that retains households protected, and a each day reminder that small moments of care can spark large happiness.
On this interview, she displays on the pivotal moments, hard-earned classes, and defining wins from her journey in constructing thriving on-line ventures.
What’s the origin story behind your small business, and the way does it mirror who you might be past the entrepreneur title?
Joyful Bear was born whereas I used to be on maternity go away with my second youngster. I couldn’t discover a light hand sanitiser protected sufficient for my toddler — every part stung, smelled harsh, or dried out her little arms. So, I created my very own. As a mum first and entrepreneur second, I needed one thing that gave households peace of thoughts with out compromise. Joyful Bear displays that a part of me — the mum who at all times appears for safer, happier options for her youngsters.
Your work blends objective with enterprise — what’s the “why” that also will get you off the bed on robust days?
My ‘why’ is easy — youngsters deserve protected, light merchandise that oldsters can really belief. Understanding Joyful Bear is making life simpler (and more healthy) for households retains me going, even on the robust days. Each message from a mum saying ‘lastly, one thing my youngsters will use with out fuss’ jogs my memory precisely why I began.
Many manufacturers supply comparable companies, however few seize hearts — what’s your secret to constructing deep emotional resonance together with your viewers?
We join with households by making sanitising really feel much less like a chore and extra like a second of care. Joyful Bear isn’t nearly killing germs — it’s about giving dad and mom peace of thoughts and children a product that feels enjoyable, protected, and made only for them. That emotional layer — security, belief, and slightly pleasure — is what turns clients right into a group.
What’s been your handiest advertising and marketing technique, and might you stroll us by means of the artistic pondering or risk-taking behind it?
Considered one of our handiest methods was a playful marketing campaign the place we secretly swapped the alcohol-based sanitisers at indoor play centres and cafés for Joyful Bear. Dad and mom rapidly seen — no sting, no sticky residue, and children who really needed to sanitise. It was a daring transfer, nevertheless it confirmed in actual time how a lot better Joyful Bear feels, and as soon as households tried it, they didn’t wish to return.
How do you take heed to your group — not simply in surveys or analytics — however in ways in which enable you anticipate their unstated wants?
I hear in the identical areas dad and mom reside their each day lives — college gates, daycare pick-ups, mum teams, even informal chats on the park. That’s the place the unstated truths come out: the sting that youngsters received’t inform you about, the mum who’s bored with sticky arms, or the mum or dad who simply desires one much less battle within the morning rush. By being a part of that group myself, I get to listen to and anticipate wants lengthy earlier than they present up in a survey.
Which marketing campaign, collaboration, or strategic shift felt like a real turning level in your model’s public picture?
An actual turning level was after I began sharing the behind-the-scenes of constructing Joyful Bear whereas elevating two little ones. Individuals noticed the late nights, the kitchen-table planning, the juggle of nappies and new enterprise. It resonated as a result of it was actual — and our group felt a part of the journey, not simply spectators. That honesty constructed belief and made the model really feel extra human than simply one other product on the shelf.
In your individual phrases, how do you measure success past revenue, by way of legacy, affect, or cultural impression?
For me, success isn’t simply gross sales — it’s the messages and pictures from dad and mom displaying their youngsters fortunately utilizing Joyful Bear. Understanding we’ve turned one thing households used to dislike right into a product they belief and revel in looks like the actual win. That type of impression — making on a regular basis moments safer and happier — is the legacy I wish to construct.
Are you able to recall a second when a failure turned a narrative value telling in your press or model narrative?
Considered one of my greatest early ‘failures’ was barcodes — they merely wouldn’t scan! What I believed could be a tiny element changed into months of back-and-forth, new samples, countless testing, and a whole lot of sudden prices. On the time it felt like such a setback, nevertheless it’s now a type of tales that completely captures the truth of beginning a enterprise — nothing is just too small to journey you up. It taught me resilience, persistence, and that even the tiniest particulars matter while you’re constructing one thing from scratch.
What’s a each day or weekly ritual that retains you grounded and in contact together with your model’s mission, even when enterprise will get chaotic?
Going for a stroll outdoors and spending time with my household is my reset button. It pulls me out of the chaos of enterprise and again into the straightforward moments that impressed Joyful Bear within the first place — defending and caring for my youngsters. These walks remind me that the model is about greater than only a product; it’s about creating safer, happier on a regular basis moments for households.
How do you strategy innovation in a method that makes your model each trend-aware and timeless?
I deal with fixing actual issues for households quite than chasing fads. Dad and mom will at all times need merchandise which are protected, light, and simple to make use of — that’s timeless. The place innovation is available in is how we ship that in a method that feels recent and related: enjoyable packaging youngsters really like, social campaigns that spark dialog, and listening carefully to what fashionable households want. That steadiness retains Joyful Bear each trend-aware and enduring.
If you happen to might move down just one piece of knowledge to the subsequent technology of entrepreneurs, what wouldn’t it be and why?
Simply give it a go. Begin regardless of the restrictions, even when it feels messy or imperfect. You’re able to greater than you realise, and each large achievement begins with tiny child steps. Progress, not perfection, is what builds one thing lasting.
Successful recognition in your business is not any small feat — what behind-the-scenes choice or transfer do you consider made that potential?
I consider recognition got here from daring to create a product that really stands aside. As a substitute of one other ‘boring’ sanitiser, Joyful Bear is alcohol-free, light, and designed with youngsters and fogeys in thoughts. That call to again one thing distinctive — even when it meant going in opposition to the norm — is what helped us stand out and acquire traction within the business.
How have public recognition, awards, or media options shifted alternatives in your model in sudden methods?
Public recognition and media options have opened doorways we by no means anticipated — from being approached by potential stockists to bigger manufacturers reaching out for collaborations. It’s created alternatives that might have taken years to construct on our personal, and it’s proven us simply how highly effective visibility will be in fast-tracking progress.
If somebody hears your identify or sees your work simply as soon as, what’s the one message or feeling you hope they go away with?
If somebody hears my identify simply as soon as, I hope they see a mum who turned a real-life battle into an answer for households in every single place. I need them to really feel impressed that with braveness and persistence, you possibly can create one thing significant — even from the kitchen desk with youngsters operating round.
The place’s one of the best place for our viewers to comply with your journey and discover your work?
You’ll be able to comply with alongside on Instagram, the place I share the journey behind the model, household life, and plenty of Joyful Bear moments. You can even discover and store the vary at Happy Bear Skincare.
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