Interview: Aimee Marks

AIMEE MARKS

FOUNDER, TOM ORGANIC AUSTRALIAN ORGANIC BUSINESS OF THE YEAR, 2017

TOM Organic was founded on the philosophy that women should never have to compromise their wellbeing or the health of the planet with the products they buy.

We seek to enrich women’s lives by exercising social and ethical responsibility in every aspect of our work—from where we source our organic cotton to the way we run our business.

[ TLSE ] YOUR PRODUCTS ARE FOR WOMEN, YOU SUPPORT WOMEN ON A DAILY BASIS IN YOUR WORKFORCE, HOW IMPORTANT IS IT HAVING A STRONG TEAM BEHIND YOU TO SHARE YOUR MESSAGE AND MANAGE YOUR BEAUTIFUL BRAND?

[ AIMEE ] One of my biggest learnings as a business woman was to be selective about the kinds of people you work with every day. It’s about the people you want constantly challenging you and the people you want to celebrate with. I’m incredibly proud and grateful for The TOM Co team. We’re an empowered workforce – currently a team of 13 females, of which eight are mums, and all have had such a positive impact on where we have landed today.

BY CALLING OUT THE CURRENT STATE OF AFFAIRS OF THE PESTICIDES AND SYNTHETIC INGREDIENTS USED IN TRADITIONAL TAMPONS AND PADS, YOU MUST HAVE RUFFLED SOME FEATHERS. TELL US ABOUT HOW IT HAS BEEN FORGING AHEAD IN THIS INDUSTRY AND WHAT HAS KEPT YOU ON TRACK AND TRUE TO YOUR MISSION?

Everything about this business comes from my heart. There’s been such a huge amount of hard work that’s gone into what I do. Australian female consumers are some of the most savvy in the world and this is one of the most difficult markets to be in and create success with products. So I felt an overwhelming responsibility to have these intimate yet very natural and normal conversations with our community to build a strong foundation of trust. It’s fair to say that our community keeps us on the straight and narrow!

To continue that level of trust we have had to work really hard at maintaining organic certifications and the right sort of distribution partners to practice what we preach. Every business decision is a carefully considered one.

WE KNOW THE IDEA CAME TO YOU WHEN YOU WERE WORKING ON A SCHOOL PROJECT, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES TO TAKE AN IDEA TO MARKET AND SOMEONE WHO FINISHES THEIR ASSIGNMENT AND MOVES ON?

TELL US ABOUT THAT MOMENT WHEN YOU KNEW YOU JUST HAD TO MAKE THIS BIGGER THAN A SCHOOL ASSIGNMENT?

Realising that women use over 12,000 tampons in a lifetime in the most intimate and absorbent part of our bodies was enough to make me reconsider what I would do with my life and put my life work into a solution for female health, as well as environmental impact. I felt a sense of responsibility to create an alternative. It was all about standing true to myself and knowing very deeply that this was a product that simply needed to exist. And most importantly, we discovered that this product had the power to garner a real community of women who very quickly became fiercely loyal and the strongest of advocates for our brands.

HOW IMPORTANT IS IT FOR YOU TO BE A POSITIVE LEADER AND ROLE MODEL?

Mentoring is so important. For me, mentoring works both ways – it’s an opportunity for me to pass on what I have learnt and in return I always learn something new. The dream for me is to be able to shortcut some of the mistakes I’ve made (which turn into part of the successes) with a view to helping fast track budding entrepreneurs.

Last year we ran TOM’s first ever Female Empowerment Grant where we did a nationwide call-out for females that demonstrated an ability to empower women through their business mission. Sometimes all it takes is an unconditional act of kindness from one woman to another to change their universe – after all, it took one person to really believe in me once! This idea of women lifting each other up is integral to our business mission.

WHAT IS A NON-NEGOTIABLE IN YOUR BUSINESS?

Our business tagline is to create beautiful products that inspire positive impact for life. We have a commitment to providing Australian women (and their families) with the purest products imaginable. In 2016 with the arrival of my twins Poppy and Ivy, we launched tooshies by TOM, our planet-friendly range of eco nappies and biodegradable baby wipes. In the product development process for both TOM Organic and tooshies by TOM, there was never any question to stand by our values and our commitment to the most premium, conscious choice for our end consumer.

WHAT IS YOUR WORD FOR 2018?

Empowerment.

I’m currently pregnant with my third bubba, and so grateful to have a team who are completely loyal and trusted around me. I just know without a question of doubt that they’ll carry on with the business flow and allow me to focus on my family. That empowers me. It also empowers my team.

I FELT A SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY, TO CREATE AN ALTERNATIVE.

@TOMORGANIC | WWW.THETOMCO.COM