Seinfeld was the biggest hit on television. The Crying Game shocked people on the big screen. Gasoline was 93 cents a gallon!
And, Absolutely Natural was officially launched April 16, 1992. Our first bottle of sunscreen was sold at a resort in Hilton Head Island while many hours later resorts in Maui made their first sales.
At the time we had one employee (me) and a 500 sqft facility on Hickory Street in Melbourne, Florida. The goal was simple ... Make the world's first truly all natural suncare and sell it through resort hotels with company trained skin care consultants.
We had just seven different products at the time, Rosehip Aloe, Pure Aloe, SPF 4, 8 and 15. Plus our Platinum Tanning Oil and our Professional Tanning Oil. The sunscreens were revolutionary and worked great, but were a challenge to sell as the Titanium was thick and white and left people looking like Casper, the Friendly Ghost. Great cartoon; not so great on sun lovers at the beach.
Within a couple of years we improved our propitiatory technology and we were able to add an SPF 25 to the mix and make the sunscreens less whitening as well. This was our entire product mix for about 10 years.
From those humble beginnings we grew. We added territories including Southwest Florida, Orlando, Las Vegas and Palm Springs. We honed our training and created programs that are still the gold standard in the suncare industry. We were often imitated but never duplicated and even now are light years ahead of our competitors with our training systems including the famous 3-P's program (see some of our past blogs).
Lots of things have changed in 20 years. We started at six resorts and now have products in more than 200 worldwide. Hawaii is still an important region for us but we are now in Europe, Australia and New Zealand, Mexico, Canada and all over the Caribbean.
Our catalogue has increased from the original seven products to more than 250 with all natural formulas in Suncare, personal care, spa and specialty products. We now sell to Ritz Carlton properties all over the world, the Fontainebleu Resort in Miami, Sandals and Beaches Properties, Trump Resorts, the Venetian and Aria in Las Vegas and hundreds more.
We've grown physically as well and now have nearly 35,000 sqft of production, offices and warehouse in Melbourne, Florida as well as two stores in Kauai. Absolutely Natural employs 25 people full time with up to 20 more seasonally.
Some things haven't changed. Our formulas are still made with cosmetic grade raw ingredients and still hand crafted with exacting standards. Even though we make 1000x more product than we did in 1992, we will never take shortcuts. That's the biggest reason we have thrived over the last two decades.
There are scores of people to thank especially my wife, Kelly, who used to coordinate all of our labeling of bottles with housewives all over Brevard County burning up the miles in an old Ford Taurus station wagon. And, she has been supportive of me through good times and bad and the million miles I have had to travel and the great amount of time I was absent from our home.
Mike Kelley, my oldest friend, first customer and still my best client with his fantastic Beach Activities of Maui. My brother, Steve, who was instrumental in keeping the business going in the early years. Bob Hamner originally developed the formulas with me and still comes up with phenomenal fragrances and products. All our employees in the past for their hard work and all of our great clients who have made it possible for our growth. And, many, many more.
Additionally, I want to thank our fantastic staff today especially Danny Richards who has been with me his whole life and worked for the company for the last 11 years. Danny has done whatever has been asked of him and currently works in sales and with special projects. Also, Lindsey Barber who has put her heart and soul into the company for the last seven years and has proven invaluable in the day to day operations, product development and web sales. Todd Anderson is going on four years of service as our director of sales and resident technology guru and brings a wealth of personal experience to the company (see Todd's story in past blogs).
We are also fortunate to have Suzanne Clements on our team. Suzanne is an extraordinary graphic artist who is responsible for our label design, web site look, new product design, mail outs, all collateral material and much more. She is assisted by Curtis Canham and they make an award winning team.
Scott Faris is also an integral team member and our consultant CFO. Scott has been instrumental in developing our financial resources and some exciting license products that we will announce shortly.
I also want to thank Brittany Quave, who is so capable handling our mail order department, Jessica Bouwsma, utility player extraordinaire, Joan Marshall, our excellent bookkeeper, Josh Yanni, my other son and IT expert, Gordon Cameron, production manager who gets out a remarkable amount of work in a short time, Anita Shaw, head of our labeling department, Eddie and Franco Citron, our master blenders and most responsible for our unequaled quality products, Kristina Hamner, our micro wiz, Matt Carrerio, our warehouse manager plus our hard working capable crew in production, Chris Lurcott, Mike Pigg, and Calvin Littles.
In Hawaii, Aerial Farr is our island manger for our Kauai stores and has done a great job alongside her mother, Karen Farr, in making our first Absolutely Natural store a great success. Her sister, Julia Smart, handles duties at our kiosk at the Kauai Beach Resort and offers their clients the ultimate in guest service. They all three are fantastic representatives for our natural products.
I also appreciate our vendors who embrace our exacting standards and insistence on the best quality. They have been important in the growth of our company.
Finally, and most of all, I want to thank all of our tens of thousands of loyal customers who make our efforts worthwhile.
Best regards
Charley
194 comments:
Congratulations and keep up the good work :-)
Fantastic!
HAPPY 20TH ANN. :)
Happy Anniversary!! That is fantastic. I found this product a year ago and I am so glad I did. I LOVE this line. everything I have used has been spectacular. I can't wait for more anniversaries to come!
Congrats! Hard work thats paid off.
Happy 20th birthday!
Happy anniversary!
congrats
Love your products, they are fabulous!!
Awesome products and great story!
Congrats!!!
Happy 20th!
Thanks for the chance
Congrats!!!!
Favorite product every
wooooooooooo
I love hearing about family businesses that are doing great. Thank you for sharing such a great thing.
WHOOP!!!
Congrats on your 20 years. Here's to 20 times 20 more!!!
WHOOP!!!
Congrats!!!!
Congratulations!
Congratulations! I love Absolutely Natural products. Here's to your continued success!
Edwina Moorman
I am in love with all that you do.... Thank you for finding the inspiration 20 years ago to being it all to us. <3
Congrats on 20 years! I already have a shirt and I love it - I wore it on my flight to Boston on Friday. Here is to many more years of success!
Mark Petrillo
I worked for a major hotel amenity manufacturer for 5 years. It's great to see how successful you have been with your company, plus you're providing a superior product! Congrats!!
Michelle Masline
michellemasline@gmail.com
Love this story!
love your blog and products!!!
nice!!
Kids 25 is the only thing to go on my child! Keep it coming for another 20+
Congratulations on your 20th!!
Happy Anniversary :)
Congratulations! What a Team!
Congrats on your milestone!
Fabulous! Good on you for pursuing a dream and making it happen for 20 years (lots of relationships don't last that long!). Your literature says that your products are available in Canada - where can I buy them? They sound delightful.
Congrats!!
happy 20 yrs
Congrats! We look forward to many more years of your product!
I tried your product a few years ago when on vacation in Maui and love the products. I use the sunscreen and lotion, love the smell of the rose hips in the lotion
Thanks,
Theresa Hoeve
thank you,,,congrats!!
Congratulations on this milestone!! Your products are amazing! I use them everyday and will never stop!
Congratulations
Christine Lyttle
cclyttle@mcsnet.ca
Happy birthday !!!!!!!
Congrats on 20 years of creating incredible natural products!
Your story brought back memories. You have great products.
Sounds great!
Congratulations! Keep up the good work.
Congrats!!!
Congrats! I love this story!
I discovere Absolutely Natural products while on vacation in Hawaii. Now I am hooked on all the products. I give them as gifts too. Best of all, they are great for our environment too.
I would love to try this!!!
Happy 20th Anniversary !!Many more to come
Congrats! Looking forward to another 20 years of your products!
We first discovered Absolutely Natural products 7 years ago on Ka'anapali Beach in Maui. Imagine our surprise when our first online order arrived from Florida where we now live! Keep up the good work and congratulations on your 20th!!
I love these products! I order in bulk every summer!!
Love love the lotions
First discovered AN in Hawaii 8 years ago and I cant use anything else since. Happy 20th
I love you products. Was interested in the story of your company
congrats :)
Congratulations Great products and story
Happy Anniversary! Love it!
love your product!
Love the photo Congrats A Cloud-
Yay! Congratulations you guys. We haven't ever gone back after trying you guys in Hawaii 5 years ago!
Congratulations on your 20th Anniversary! I am on my own anniversary with your product - 5 years for me! I love the products and recommend them to everyone that I know! Keep up the great work and we will be celebrating together in another 20 years!!
I was turned on to your products 3 years ago in Hawaii. I have my kids using it and the aloe tea tree is great for troubled skin under the moisturizer. Thanks so much for the absolute best products.
Roxanne
I am a Dermatology Physician Assistant and love your sunscreens and have used them for 10+ years.
Kim
Congratulation!!!
onebusymom42@gmail.com
used your products in hawaii last week on vacation.. they are my new best friends..20 years and many more to come.
Happy Anniversary!! I really love your products and will continue to enjoy them! Thanks so much!
Great products!..Happy Anniversary..and best of success for another 20 years!!
Denine Richard
Congratulations! Have tried samples from your brand before and am IN LOVE!!! Happy 20th! :)
Believe me I know the challenges of a family business, Congrats on 20, keep up the good work, love the products.
God Bless,
Janet Young
Great products that give great results! Keep up the fantastic work!!
I think that Absolutely Fabulous is an absolutely fabulous blog - from one blogger to another!
HAPPY 20th!
This is "Absolutely" the best product ever!
Lynn Juneau
Been using absolutely for 10 years and LOVE the product. Happy Anniversary and many more years to come. Keep the good work up.
I love your products, and discovered them when I was in Hawaii. Congratulations on your Anniversary!!!
April 18, 2012 10:25am.
Pamela Eilerman
Oops I meant that I think that Absolutely Natural is an absolutely fabulous blog - from one blogger to another! LOL.
Love your product first discovered it in Flordia five years ago.
Love your products, I use them daily.
Happy Anniversary!
A loyal UK customer for the past 12 years. your products are incredible we continue to order from you and recommend to anyone and everyone. Will bde ordering more soon.
Awesome 20 years of awesome products. Some of my favorites are the anti-aging products, and the Rose Hips Aloe Lotion. The citrus scents takes me back to Maui, and are a great product! Keep it up!
It's also my husband's and I's 25 wedding anniversary today:)
Congrats on 20 years!
J. Lucey
Love your products!! Congrats!!
Congratulations and keep up the good work :-)
Happy Birthday! I have been usung your products for 20 year and love them! I first found them on the island of Maui. Since then I have ordered them by phone and then on line as your company grew. You used to call my sister and I "The girls from Austin" if you have anyone there from that time I will bet they will remember us!
Congrats again, I look forward to another 20 years!!!!
I know I didn't make the first 20 to comment, but I still wanted to congratulate you on 20 years!! I love your products and really enjoy the great free samples you always offer. Thank you for 20 years and Happy Anniversary!! Onward and upward!
Congrats! Our family has used your product for years! It's the only thing that works for allergies to the sun!!
I found your product in Hawaii. The rose hip aloe lotion keeps my typically dry skin nice and moisturized! I love it! Happy anniversary!
Congratulations. Love your products
Cindy Grimes
Happy 20th!
happy anniversary!!!!
I discovered Absolutely Natural while vacationing in Hawaii about 10 years ago. Love it! Thanks for making such great products. Happy Anniversary!
Happy 20th!!! Great work you all do!
Congrats! Happy Anniversary! emilyctharp@gmail.com
I discovered Absolutely Natural last year in Hawaii and Abslolutely love it. Congratulations on 20 years!
congrats! great products love them all!
I have never used your products,but they sound wonderful. Congradulations on your 20 year anniversary.
I discovered Absolutely Natural last year in Hawaii and Abslolutely love it. Congratulations on 20 years!
We discovered your Absolutely Natural products about 5 years ago while vacationing in Maui and have used them ever since. Our 2 and 3 year old kids even love the Rose Hip Aloe lotion. They ask to use the lotion so they can "smell like Hawaii".... I guess it reminds them of being on vacation, too. Can't beat that! Congrats on 20 years in business!!
Ever since getting a sunburn in Maui, and someone at the kiosk selling Absolutely Natural Rose HIp lotion "saved me", I have been hooked. I have used it as my everyday FACE lotion for 10 years now, and my skin looks and feels great. I appreciate they are all natural, truly! Happy Anniversry!
My wife and I first discovered you products while on vacation in Hawaii as well as others I see have done. Have been ordering your products ever since. Thank you for putting out such great products, Happy Anniversary!!!
I fell in love with a product from Ron Jon's many moons ago...I tracked you all down and found out it was your rose-hip lotion in their wrapper. I was so happy to have found you. Your products are the BEST and safest!!! Love you & your products!!!HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!
Thank you for all of your hard work! I am in love with your ideals...natural IS the best way to go! Thank you again!
Congrats and thank you for making such a wonderful product, we have been using it for over 18 years, we give it to our family as gifts. It is the only product we will ever use.
We wish you continued success!!!!!
The Autiello Family
I love your products! They make my skin look and feel it's absolute best. Congratulations on 20 years and I hope you have many more!!
Have so been turned on to Absolutely Natural!
looking forward to what the next 20 yers bring!
hard to believe 20 yrs have gone by. congrats!!!
Can't wait to see what the next 20 yrs bring!
Just got my 2nd order with you since I tried some products on Maui. Love the Organic Beauty Cream too!!! Happy Anniversary!
Congratulations! We love your product. My son is now 17 and still insists on using your product. He loves the fact that when he sweats or gets wet, the lotion does not burn when it gets in his eyes like other products. Thank you!
Congrats! Even though I have never tried your products, big ups for making them natural!
I just started using your products & LOVE them! Congrats to your business!
Jessica Froke
Happy Anniversry!
Congratulations to you all. I just want to say what fantastic products you make. I know they are expensive, but worth every penny. I had a bad allergic reaction to a body cream six years ago and it badly scarred both my arms and decoletage areas. After repeated prescriptions from Dermatologists, I bought your Organic oil creme and oil on holiday in Lanzarote. I have never looked back. The scarring is definitely almost gone and the products keep my skin healthy and well conditioned. It's great you now ship the oil and oil creme to the UK. Please keep up the good work. Happy Anniversary to you from a very satisfied UK Customer.
I have never tried your products but want to wish you a Happy 20th Anniversary. Best of Luck.
time flies but beauty stays the same
CONGRATS AND AWSOME WORK.....
Congratulations! Happy 20th Anniversary!
Navleen Nijjar
navleenbean@hotmail.com
Congratulations and best wishes for another 20 years. Love the products
I remember when you couldn't get your products in Canada... I was so disappointed since I couldn't afford to go to Hawaii to get them whenever I needed them. But now I am happy we can order your products to our door! Congratulations on your 20 years! Corina Brearley, BC Canada
I am also hooked on the Natural Rose Hip Lotion and begin to get frantic if I am near running out. The smell and feel as well as what it does for my skin is unsurpassed to anything else I have tried. Thanks and Happy Anniversary. Sally Salerno
20 years. wow!
Has it been 20 years?! Happy Anniversary to one awesome company! Love, love your product line and ethics! Thank you again for all you do to keep our skin and environment healthy!
Happy to see the company still going strong. My family started using your products while on vacation in Cocoa Beach Florida many years ago. Great memories over the years and your great product line from Absolutely Natural is part of these memories.
Every time I put on your tanning oil, I think of Hawaii, where I bought it for the first time. Congratulations on 20 years of wonderful products.
Congrats and LOVE my suncare products! They smell soooo good!
Congratulations!! Don't ever stop. Best sun products I have ever used!!
CONGRATULATIONS and Happy Anniversary. I have been using your products, and giving them as gifts for the past several years. I LOVE YOUR PRODUCTS.
Congratulations and Happy 20th Anniversary! Love the products, love the service, love the enthusiasm. Sue.
Best of luck! Your products are Absolutely Great!
kwfurth@hotmail.com
Hope you have a wonderful aniversary !
I use the rose Hip aloe daily and love it, congrats and keep up the awesome work.
vinegal75@hotmail.com
Happy 20th! How funny you mention the movie "Crying Game"-that was the movie my brother took my relatively new hubby and dad to.I'll I will say is my hubby had a few questions for me when he got home(things were a bit uncomfortable for the guys.Movie was a bit different than they thought it would be,but we still giggle about it.It was a great ice breaker for all.
Hope you guys continue to bring us great ideas for 20 more years.Thank you for all you do!!!
Happy 20th keep up the great work
Happy 20th!! Keep making the Natural products, make an unscented sunscreen!
Happy 20th Anniversary. Your products are great. I really like the sunscreens, and the first time I tried them was on Maui in the 90's. I love ordering from family businesses, the people are frendlier and the service is better. Thanks for the great products and friendly staff.
Congratulations on your 20th
Great Company! Happy Anniversary! Keep up the great work of keeping the world beautiful!
Happy 20th Anniversary. I love your products. I would have never known about them if I hadn't come across them when we were in Maui in 2006. Been hooked ever since.
Thank you so much for your products - they are positively lovely! I have had trouble with fragrances in products of all kinds most of my life, but your products are so pure and free of all that synthetic stuff that I have no negative reactions to them at all. What a grand thing to not have to experience that any more! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! May your business be blessed with growth and prosperity forever!
I commented on facebook yesterday and congratulated you all. I love all of your products that I have tried!! They are the best!! Never disappointed!! Here's to the next 20 years!!
Kathy Bonne
Happy 20:th!
I absolutely love your products since I worked with them on Gran Canaria a few years ago!
I never use anything else for sunprotection after that & recommend all my friends to do the same!
/JN
siztersurround@yahoo.se
Happy 20th Anniversary.. I loved the products from first trying them in Hawaii in 2009. May you have another 20years of success
Happy 20th Anniversary... I fist dicoverd your poducts in Hawaii and love them
Happy Anniversary, we found you last year and have been in love ever day after. Thank you for a great product.
happy 20th anniversary!!! keep up the great work!
HAPPY 20TH ANNIVERSARY!!! I absolutely LOVE your products. I first started using them while visiting Maui and I never stopped. THANK YOU for making a product that my skin and hair love.
Happy 20th Anniversary! Your products are something we all need to appreciate, “All Natural". Being healthy starts with what you use in a daily basis and I truly believed in using nothing but made by nature. Keep up the magnanimous work and keep America Healthy!
Rose Sakey
Carmel Valley, San Diego, CA
Happy Anniversary
CD
You all look so happy in the picture!!!! Must be the product :)))) Love your Blog!!!
Happy 20th!!!!
I found your product while in Kauai, I knew it was a great product with the sample and now use the whole skin care line. Happy Anniversery. Keep up the good work and wonderful products. My skin feels great. Pam C
We absolutely LOVE all your suncare products! We have been loyal customers for 15 years. Having first tried the suntan oil at Vistana Resort in Orlando, FL.
Happy Anniversary!!
Well a very Happy Anniversary to a great company that makes a wonderful product, I first used this product when I was on a dream vacation to Hawaii and have been using ever since. I know with product this good for your skin you will have another 20 year anniversary.
So glad we found you! My husband and I were just wandering the beach in Wakiki, and we fell in love with your products. Love, love, love the Rosehip Aloe lotion & your Pure Aloe & Teatree oil is a life saver after too much sun!!! Happy Anniversary & I look forward to many more years for your company!!!
Here's to another 20 years.. Way to go!!!
Here's to a great 20 years. May more years yet to come
Here's to many more years...
I guess I was introduced at the beginning. I was in Hawaii, Maui and at the Embassy Suites. You had a stand at the back of the pool with the different types of lotion. I bought the Aloe, the after sun skin conditioner and SPF 4 and 8. What a difference it made with the length I was able to stay out in the sun. No burning. Congratulations to you and your staff.
Pam Kurkowski
"Absolutely" love your product. Congrats!
Your sun screens and after sun lotions are the best products out anywhere. I first tried it in Maui and haven't used anything else. The Rosehip Aloe is the best skin conditioner after sun or just when your skin get dry. I really like your "Buy Three get 1 Free" specials. Keep up the good work.
Happy 20th Anniversary! Can't believe all the "Dudes" on your skin care team!! LOL! I thought it was only women who were into skincare! :0) Looking forward to 20 more years, I hope?
God bless,
I have been using your product since its introduction in 1992. I was staying in Maui at the Kea Lani resort. They were featuring it at the pool and the smell of the rosehips was enchanting. Since then I have never used anything but your products. They are absolutely the best in the world and are so good for my skin. Bravo! Thank you for coming up with a formula that prevents sun rash! I am hooked and have recommended these products to all my friends.
I found you on a beach in Maui years ago and I've been happily 'using' ever since. Looking forward to trying your new products. Thank you.
Happy 20th and many, many more!! I absolutely love your products and I refuse to be without them year in and year out! I first purchased it on my honeymoon in Maui in 1999 and have used it ever since. Congratulations and keep up the great work!
Congratulations! Wonderful products! Love love love them!!
Happy Happy!
chichijunk at cs dot com
I know this is late, for some reason this email went into my spam folder. Congrats! Love love your products and the turtle on the logo. Heres to many more 20 years to follow! Karen :)
Started using your product on vacation in Hawaii in 1993 and still loving it in SC. Congratulations!
Great stuff, Congratulations on a job well done
The G's
Wasn't to Hawaii, but am looking for your product in Pennsylvania. Sounds like I should be using it. Hope to find it soon. congrats and many more years of success.
Oh my god the greatest stuff on earth.....happy 20th and many more
Found you in Hawaii almost 10 years ago. With severe allergies your product was made JUST FOR ME! THANK YOU for making such a quality product.
Your friend/client for LIFE!!! :)
Happy 20th! Love your product! Congrats ♥ Azalie
Congrats on your 20 years. Here's wishing you many more. Great Products
Congratulationson your 20th year,keep up the good work from shirleybrewster@hotmail.com
and I hope I am lucky to get your free T -shirt
Congrats! Can't wait to see what's in store!
Congrats, Keep up the good work!!
My husband and I were introduced to your products 8 years ago while honeymooning in Maui and have been ordering your products ever since. We LOVE your products!! Congratulations on a successful 20 years!
We are loyal customers for life!!
Barb & Derek Olson
great products! Happy Anniversary!
Happy 20th! Here's to many more :)
Lweatherman@ymail.com
Brill success, great products that work 100%.
Congratulations! I have loved your products since our first trip to Hawaii 11 years ago. My favorite is the scent of the Rosehip lotion. Keep up the great work!!
Congratulations!!!! I love your products!
My family and I have been using your sun care products for about 10 years now and there is no other product that I use for summertime. I have recommended this product for years to all of my clients at my salon and they all love it!! It is absolutley wonderful and smells great and causes no burning or irritation to the skin like traditional sunscreens. Placing my order now for our upcoming vacation!! Congratulations on your 20th year, exceptional products and exceptional service. God bless you.
Discovered your products in Captiva, Florida and have purchased the sun line every summer since!
Congratulations on 20 years. We found your products while in Hawaii on a family vacation. Products are great for my sensitive skin. My family loves the rose hip aloe.
Happy Anniversary - I love your products. Starting using them in 1992 while on vacation in Orlando. I don't see the Rose Hip Bath anymore. I loved that product. Congrats!
Congratulations on your 20th years! and more successful years to come. I fell in love with the products and will continue to promote the natural ingrdients contain with the products especifically the face wash. With today health issues, using natural ingredients are very important to a lot of people. Please continue to keep america healthy.
Please start shipping to the UK, the products sound fab!!
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