By KAITLYN CHAMBERLIN
The Pure Fiji body and skin care company is seeing enormous success with their new facial line.
Gaetane Austin founded the business and co-owns Pure Fiji with daughter Andrée Austin.
She said the company strives to provide men and women with the most natural and up-to-date body and skin care products available.
“The facial line has been revamped and proving to be very popular,” she said.
Pure Fiji started from soap packaging in Ms. Austin’s kitchen. The company has now grown to include in its facial line cleansers, toners, moisturizers, and serum and eye cream.
“Pure Fiji even has a men’s line though the products are not gender based,” she added.
Markets
The company has a large following as it reaches a worldwide market and is sold internationally including USA, China, Korea, and Europe.
Along with creating body and skin care products, Pure Fiji also helps a local inland village who they have encouraged to make hand-made paper.
“This paper is used to package a line or products and has become a successful business with the paper being delivered every Thursday.”
The proceeds from this project have funded the establishment of a secondary school, canteen, and the purchase of a generator.
“We were fortunate enough to obtain the funding available for an expert to teach them how to make paper,” Ms. Austin said.
Income-generating
Pure Fiji has been able to provide the village with basic mentoring, as well as a steady income.
“The village is now thriving with the regular income from making paper.”
Pure Fiji currently employs approximately 135 local workers, some who have been with the company since opening in 1995.
Ms. Austin is extremely intent on keeping the company family owned and providing employment to many people.
About Pure Fiji
The company is wholly-owned and operated by mom and daughter.
It receives no outside funding, and relies on careful financial planning and a strong relationship with their bankers.
When asked if Pure Fiji will ever outsource, Ms. Austin replied without hesitation: “No. By keeping it local we can keep our staff employed. We consider our staff as family. One big Pure Fiji family.”
Pure Fiji’s range of products packed and sold locally and internationally. Photo: KAITLYN CHAMBERLIN