Behind Nude Skincare's founder...
From being Fresh and Wild to going Nude!
Stemming from solid working-class and poor roots in Northern Ireland, Bryan Meehan’s journey to success was far from guaranteed. This is a man who, despite tough odds has landed on his feet, but that is probably as much to do with his integrity as his talent. He’s quiet, humble, and soft spoken, if he says so himself, and hardly what you might associate with the Creator of an international 'rockstar' skincare brand. But then this forty-year-old Eco-entrepreneur is not your typical CEO.
Having worked for Guinness, in sales and marketing, he moved to the US to enrol in the Harvard Business School. Seeing, the success of Whole Foods stateside, Bryan decided to set up his own natural food store in London’s trendy Notting Hill district. Joining forces with his friend Hass Hassan led to immediate success, resulting in seven stores bought by Whole Foods in 2004.
During this time, a mutual friend introduced him to Bono. Ali Hewson, Bono’s wife and the brains behind Edun Clothing, suggested Nude and a skincare line was born. We wanted to learn more about Nude Skincare and the man behind the brand.
Coco Eco: When did you become eco-aware?
Bryan Meehan: Really through my wife Tara, who is half Swiss and was very eco aware all her life. She introduced me to organic food and about caring for the environment. The little things that made a difference like recycling or having short showers etc and that back in 1994 so she was ahead of the game.
CE: Why after owning a chain of successful organic supermarkets did you chose skincare? It seems like a diverse choice.
BM: I am now doing for skincare what I did for food at Fresh and Wild. Making natural more fun, luxurious and most importantly ensuring that consumers don’t have to compromise on their beauty by going natural.
CE: Whats your parameters for Nude and how do you source your ingredients?
BM: If you look on the web or a brochure you will see our ‘beautiful without’ stamp where we avoid synthetic ingredients like propylene glycol, sodium laurel sulphates etc. We like to add beautiful ingredients like pre and pro biotics; milk peptides that will do something powerful for the health of your skin without adding the usual nasty synthetic ingredients that are all too prevalent in this industry
CE: Can you explain the term pre and pro biotics?
BM: Pre biotic is a sugar that probiotis feed off. The by-product is water. Probiotics are friendly bacteria that help to strengthen the skin’s natural micro flora and hence skin acid mantle.
CE: Nude’s packaging is sleek and minimalistic whilst also being recycled and recyclable. How was it conceptualized?
BM: Mr & Mrs Hewson were very much involved in this. We worked with the cult design company in London, Pearlfisher, and between us we came up with something that uses 60% post industrial polypropylene (200ml) and the whole range recyclable.
CE: Aside from the product and packaging, what other eco practices does Nude follow?
BM: Everything we do, we TRY to do in a responsible way.
CE: What’s next for Nude?
BM: the nude spa….
CE: Are you involved in any charitable work?
BM: Yes lots. My main charity (I am a trustee) is Concern Worldwide (www.concern.net) fighting extreme poverty worldwide and responding to national disasters. Also I am on the board of The Soil Association (UK organic food charity)
CE: Outside of being an eco-entrepreneur, what is your passion?
BM: I love art, love my three girls and wide Tara, and beautiful buildings (I have a thing for houses…).
CE: What’s next for you?
BM: I am off for lunch now…in South Africa and then off to see a charity in Cape Town (SOS Children’s Village) where my daughter Olivia has a friend (Valencia Adams). What’s really next? Who knows? I follow a path less trodden, take a turn here and turn there, sometimes its hilly, sometimes its perfect.
CE: Finally, and advice for other entrepreneurs?
BM: Do it. Follow your heart. Focus on something you enjoy that doesn’t fee like work…