042: All-Natural Insect Repellant & Reusing Failed Products, Stacy Marking with Lemongrass Trading Co

Product Startup · 28 Feb 2017 · 34m

What this episode covers

Stacy Marking, founder of Lemongrass Trading Co, explains how she developed an all-natural insect repellent using essential oils imported from India, navigating strict European regulations by labeling products as 'deterrents' rather than 'insecticides' to avoid million-euro testing costs. She details the failure of a complex, labor-intensive coaster product due to material incompatibility with the oil, which she successfully repurposed by giving to beekeepers to protect hives from mites. Marking also discusses her direct-to-consumer sales strategy, leveraging local press features and platforms like SourceBottle to drive organic growth without retail distribution.

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