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Rebecca Jefferd and Ava Chandler-Matthews
Co-founders, Ultra Violette
National Finalist in EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2024 Australia
In 2019, Rebecca Jefferd and Ava Chandler-Matthews founded Ultra Violette, a sunscreen brand that specialises in skincare-infused SPF, created to bridge the gap between skin care and suncare.
Bec and Ava, both former beauty executives, wanted the Ultra Violette business to have a deep connection with their customers. In the beginning, they sold direct-to-customer as their lead distribution channel as a way of promoting customer feedback and communication, and eliciting data about purchase behaviour. This approach also contributed to early profitability and access to cash flow to enable growth.
Less than five years later, Ultra Violette has grown into a successful global brand that’s sold in 25 countries. By taking SPF into the higher-end market, the company is pioneering a new category in prestige beauty. Alongside their direct-to-customer e-commerce platform, its founders work with a range of domestic and international wholesale partners including Sephora globally. From just the two of them working at Rebecca’s kitchen table, they now employ 21 staff, and are proud to have fostered a workplace culture of achievement, candour and kindness.
Bec and Ava believe their strategic mindset and creativity have been crucial factors in their success. They also see their relationship as a key strength and critical to the vitality of the business that’s demanded 18-hour workdays, international travel and juggling family life.
As for the future, the duo have a lot more innovation in the pipeline. Thinking big, they’re determined to succeed in the North American market in the next three years. However, despite all their accomplishments, they say that there is no feeling like hearing a customer report that they now wear SPF daily thanks to Ultra Violette. They hope that by making SPF appealing, they can ultimately help educate the consumer on why SPF is critical to overall skin health and also reduce rates of skin cancer.