Today we’d like to introduce you to Richard Welch.
Hi Richard, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I came to creating Utu from a career in building and revitalizing brands, specifically in skincare, style, leisure, and luxury. I have worked with Tom Ford, REN, Estee Lauder, Stella Artois, The North Face & Nike.
I love being outdoors in nature, I hike, ski, raft, and surf. Through all my activities and adventures, I could never find great, clean suncare that I trusted and wanted to use daily. I was searching for advanced product that protects and enhances skin health and didn’t endanger it. Or the environment. So, I decided to reimagine the category as outdoor skincare and Utu was born!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road was smooth in the planning stage, my experience in building brand foundations helped significantly. The process was exciting and fulfilling…moving into the product formulation, production, supplier selection, and launch had its moments!!! Formulating Suncare is renowned for being a very complicated process. And when you add to this the very high bar we set on ingredient integrity and packaging sustainability (zero plastic), we definitely did not choose the path of least resistance. But all the challenges and setbacks really did help us grow wiser, stronger, and more determined to stick to our vision and values.
As you know, we’re big fans of Utu – Outdoor Skincare. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Utu is Outdoor Skincare made for adventure, born in California. We Elevate the experience of suncare by engineering the most advanced SPF skincare formulations that protect and nourish from all the elements. Our products are formulated to the highest clean standard (EU), and only contain mineral SPF that is human safe, reef safe, cruelty free, Biobased and does not leave a white cast on the skin. It has always been imperative that we have products that people love using because they feel great and deliver clean protection and nourishment. We want to change the relationship many people have with SPF, it should be used and enjoyed daily all year around.
As outdoor lovers, we also don’t want our brand and products to add to the horrifying plastic pollution that is poisoning our earth, oceans, and bodies.
We are proudly the only premium suncare brand in the world that is 100% plastic-free.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
My advice is always keep your eye on the horizon and don’t allow the minutiae to distract you or cloud your vision… and remember to always give more that you take.
Life will be sunnier that way.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.utu-sun.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/utuskincare/?hl=en
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/utuskincare
Image Credits
@augustusphoto
