Meet Elina Lampaki | Co-Founder of VIVAIODAYS Organic Skin/Hair Care

 

Today we’d like to introduce you to Elina Lampaki.

Hi Elina, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
As an undergraduate student in Greece and an active member of AIESEC, an international youth-led non-profit organization, I had the opportunity to participate in cross-cultural teams, volunteering experiences and leadership activities that motivated me to continue my business studies in a more diversified environment in the USA.

Though I had to leave behind a well-paid marketing job, my family, friends, and my home country, it was a conscious decision that not only transformed my thinking but also drove me to discover and challenge myself further by pursuing an MBA. After graduating from SDA Bocconi, Milan, I entered the beauty industry with a dream of creating my own brand that not only delivers on its promises but also makes a positive impact on the world – something that people would feel inspired to share with their kids.

VIVAIODAYS began when our family did. When our first child was born, my husband & I made a commitment to support education in less privileged communities. As this commitment grew, we traveled extensively to find local education initiatives to support on a long-term basis. This journey eventually led us to a Bajau village in Borneo, where local mothers used homemade turmeric paste to protect their children’s skin from the sun. We realized that people all over the world have been using traditional remedies passed down from generation to generation, and this ancient knowledge deserves our respect. Thus, we committed to rediscovering these trusted remedies from all corners of the world and distilling them into their most sustainable forms. We view it as a win-win exchange: we use the world’s accumulated wisdom for our needs and give back 2% of our revenues to support the education of the next generation across our global community.

At VIVAIODAYS, our mission goes beyond the therapeutic benefits of our products. We strive to be part of a vital change in our industry and to stand firm behind our values for the long term. Respecting the earth and caring about humanity are at the core of our brand values.

Today, our certified organic products, created for babies but loved and used by adults, are sold in selective beauty, green, and baby stores in the USA and ten international markets. We have funded 88,000 days of school for underprivileged kids and have donated products to organizations such as Baby2Baby and Upward Bound House.
Currently, we are developing new products that will be launching soon, so stay tuned!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
When you are a female entrepreneur and mother starting a business outside of your native country, you may encounter personal and professional challenges. Being an entrepreneur does not always mean you spend your time in retreats and social glamorous events! It’s important to note that entrepreneurship entails hard work, with long hours and occasional setbacks. However, the rewards can be fulfilling, such as seeing your products stocked in your favorite stores or receiving positive feedback from customers. Sometimes reading a thank you note on Instagram from a fellow mom telling you how your Olive Rescue Balm Gel relieved her son’s eczema and posting a picture of him sleeping without suffering…is all you need to keep going! On the flip side, there may be frustrating days where time management is difficult, and it can be challenging to balance work and family life. Financial constraints can also limit the potential growth of your brand or the ability to introduce new products.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At VIVAIODAYS, we are proud to not only offer high-quality skin and hair care products for babies and kids but also to provide more Schooldays for kids in need with every sale, at no extra cost to the customer. We believe that together with our customers, we can make bite-size changes that change lives and inspire future humanitarians.
Our brand stands out by combining modern organic science with traditional plant wisdom from all corners of the globe, using safe, non-toxic, and sustainable ingredients that are gentle on sensitive skin. We are committed to sustainability and ethical practices, such as using 100% recyclable sugarcane tubes and bottles, partnering with fair-trade producers, and being certified cruelty-free by Leaping Bunny.

Our people are an important asset of our business. Among us are two founders with a combined 30 years of experience in the cosmetics/beauty industry, an autodidact “Indiana Jones” anthropologist of medicinal plants, a green chemist, and a creative director who translates our ideas into a visual form on our packaging. We are constantly learning and combining traditional ways of life with modern science to create safe and beneficial family care products that meet European clean standards.

The journey is as exciting as it is challenging.

Trivia 1: VIVAIO (vee-vi-oh) or ‘nursery’ in Italian has two meanings; it’s a place where young plants grow and a place where little kids learn as they grow.

Trivia 2: Our signature baby animal illustrations that featured on each product are inspired by the origin of each remedy that inspired us to create each product.

How do you think about luck?
Ernest Hemingway once said, “We make our own luck,” and I wholeheartedly agree with him. Our choices and actions shape our future, but luck can also play a role.

During a visit to Borneo to evaluate an organization for our Schooldays program, we were fortunate to witness the healing powers of nature. We met children who wore a yellow turmeric paste, known as “borak,” on their faces for sun protection. This inspired us to create our brand rediscovering centuries-proven remedies and ancient wisdom from around the world and developing products that deliver real results through organic science while also being safe, pure, and sustainable. Our best-selling 100% Natural Sunscreen, with colorless turmeric, healing oils, and 20% non-nano zinc oxide, was our first product inspired by this experience.

While we have had our share of bad luck, such as the timing of the Covid19 pandemic forcing us to postpone our expansion to travel-size packaging requested by the hospitality business, we remain committed to making a positive impact through our brand.

Pricing:

• Olive Oil All Purpose Rescue Balm Gel & Turmeric Broad Spectrum Sunscreen: $26
• Rose Geranium Cleansing Water & Tsubaki Leave-in Conditioner & Detangler: $16
• Apricot Nourishing Lotion: $14
• Saponaria Wash & N0-Tears Shampoo: from $12
• Gift Sets: from $31

Contact Info:

• Website: vivaiodays.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vivaiodays
• Facebook: facebook.com/vivaiodays
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vivaiodays/