Not quite sure why, but we're channeling bears and mountains today. Might have something to do with our ongoing, elusive branding effort! Hoping to share more details here v. soon...
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Emily
Oliver
A company blog for Ursa Major Natural Care LLC, based in Vermont. (Btw, Ursa Major means "Great Bear" in Latin and refers to the constellation containing the Big Dipper. If you've never heard of Ursa Major or the Big Dipper, you're overdue for some quality time outdoors!)
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The Crew
Emily
Oliver
More "Crew" photos coming soon...
Preamable
Greetings
Thanks for visiting the Ursa Major blog - we appreciate it. Pretty soon we'll have our web site up & running. 'Til then, we'll post updates here...
Our Vision
Ursa Major's mission is to become the favorite personal care brand for men and women who insist on living vitally. We've chosen to do this because we're totally committed to providing a spirited natural alternative to EVIL* personal care. We hold our core values dear and they are Compassion, Responsibility, Excellence, Courage and Awareness.
* EVIL: toxic, deceptive, socially & environmentally irresponsible, bland, sexist even!
Our Products
All of our products are formulated for normal to oily skin. They are highly effective, toxin-free and a pleasure to use - a robust natural alternative to chemical-ridden, impersonal care. We use high doses of nature's most powerful ingredients to get the job done, avoid the use of any suspect chemical ingredients and take care to design products that smell and feel great on application. The end result? Your skin will look and feel great and you'll have a kick in your step! (see bottom for more details on how we define 'natural').
Launch Update
We're launching with a potent face care system this coming Fall '10, including a Face Cleanser, Face Toner, Shave Cream and Face Lotion. You'll be able to buy the products on our web site and at select retailers nationwide. Keep an eye on this blog for additional launch updates.
$10 Off Early Bird Special
Interested in trying our products? Send us an email with "Early Bird Special" in the Subject field to be notified when we launch and to receive $10 off your first order.
Retailer Inquiries
If you're a buyer/retailer of natural skin care products and you're interested in learning more about Ursa Major, please drop us a line.
Contact Us
Send Us An Email
Thanks for visiting the Ursa Major blog - we appreciate it. Pretty soon we'll have our web site up & running. 'Til then, we'll post updates here...
Our Vision
Ursa Major's mission is to become the favorite personal care brand for men and women who insist on living vitally. We've chosen to do this because we're totally committed to providing a spirited natural alternative to EVIL* personal care. We hold our core values dear and they are Compassion, Responsibility, Excellence, Courage and Awareness.
* EVIL: toxic, deceptive, socially & environmentally irresponsible, bland, sexist even!
Our Products
All of our products are formulated for normal to oily skin. They are highly effective, toxin-free and a pleasure to use - a robust natural alternative to chemical-ridden, impersonal care. We use high doses of nature's most powerful ingredients to get the job done, avoid the use of any suspect chemical ingredients and take care to design products that smell and feel great on application. The end result? Your skin will look and feel great and you'll have a kick in your step! (see bottom for more details on how we define 'natural').
Launch Update
We're launching with a potent face care system this coming Fall '10, including a Face Cleanser, Face Toner, Shave Cream and Face Lotion. You'll be able to buy the products on our web site and at select retailers nationwide. Keep an eye on this blog for additional launch updates.
$10 Off Early Bird Special
Interested in trying our products? Send us an email with "Early Bird Special" in the Subject field to be notified when we launch and to receive $10 off your first order.
Retailer Inquiries
If you're a buyer/retailer of natural skin care products and you're interested in learning more about Ursa Major, please drop us a line.
Contact Us
Send Us An Email
Labels
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- brand evolution (10)
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- FAQ (2)
- gratitude (4)
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- influences and inspirations (21)
- lessons learned (3)
- marketplace (11)
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- on the road (7)
- press coverage (1)
- product update (3)
- sustainability efforts (5)
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- vermont (10)
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Blog Archive
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▼
2010
(85)
-
▼
February
(18)
- Global HQ... not quite
- New York Times article re: toxins in the environment
- Believe it or not, we're @ home working!
- Rugged Vermont-esque tie-ins
- Testing the Big Bear's mettle on snow
- Take a good sniff
- Office away from home
- Parking it for a few days in the city
- Ursa Major mentioned in Burlington Free Press
- Our elusive branding effort
- Refocusing on B Corp
- Update on developing our natural scents
- Stumptown Coffee Roaster business card
- Fellow Vermont entrepreneur out sampling
- Sunny Saturday SPF sampling duty
- Ursa Major brand mood board
- Never let a pompous CEO bring you down
- Can you spot the buck?
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▼
February
(18)
Natural Standard
Clean, Safe Natural Ingredients
We're formulating our products to meet the Natural Product Association's stringent 'Natural Product Standard', as summarized below:
95-100% Natural. "Natural" means ingredients that come or are made from a renewable resource found in nature (Flora, Fauna, Mineral), with absolutely no petroleum compounds. Ursa Major's products will be 100% natural or very close thereto (within 1-2%).
A synthetic non-natural ingredient can be used only when a) there is not a readily available natural alternative ingredient or b) there are no suspected human health risks as indicated by peer-reviewed third-party scientific literature.
Prohibited ingredients include ingredients that have suspected human health risks as indicated by peer-reviewed third-party scientific literature or incorporate synthetic silicone or petroleum compounds.
The following is an illustrative list of suspect/snarly ingredients prohibited by NPA (but prevalent in most personal care items available on the market today):
• Parabens – Synthetic preservatives that are potential endocrine disruptors
• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate – Harsh cleansing agent that can potentially damage the lipid layer of your skin and cause irritation
• Petrolatum/Mineral Oil/Paraffin – Non-renewable byproducts of crude oil with potentially dangerous impurities
• Chemical Sunscreens (Avobenzone/Oxybenzone) –Synthetic sunscreens that get absorbed and potentially disrupt hormone balance
• Glycols – Petroleum derived synthetic chemicals that can potentially draw other chemicals into the bloodstream
• Phthalates – Synthetic fragrance components that are potential toxins
• Ethoxylated ingredients like Sodium Myreth Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate, PEGs or PPGs –Ingredients that are made in part with the petrochemical ethylene oxide, that results in 1,4 Dioxane as a trace contaminant, classified as a possible carcinogen
• Ethanolamines like MEA/DEA/TEA – Foam and viscosity boosting ingredients that can interact with other ingredients to form nitrosamines, a known carcinogen
• Synthetic polymers (PVP/ Acrylates) - Synthetic stabilizers that may contain residual PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons); most widespread organic pollutant
• Formaldehyde Donors (DMDM Hydantoin/Diazolidinyl Urea/Methylisothiazolinone) – Preservatives that work by releasing formaldehyde
We're formulating our products to meet the Natural Product Association's stringent 'Natural Product Standard', as summarized below:
95-100% Natural. "Natural" means ingredients that come or are made from a renewable resource found in nature (Flora, Fauna, Mineral), with absolutely no petroleum compounds. Ursa Major's products will be 100% natural or very close thereto (within 1-2%).
A synthetic non-natural ingredient can be used only when a) there is not a readily available natural alternative ingredient or b) there are no suspected human health risks as indicated by peer-reviewed third-party scientific literature.
Prohibited ingredients include ingredients that have suspected human health risks as indicated by peer-reviewed third-party scientific literature or incorporate synthetic silicone or petroleum compounds.
The following is an illustrative list of suspect/snarly ingredients prohibited by NPA (but prevalent in most personal care items available on the market today):
• Parabens – Synthetic preservatives that are potential endocrine disruptors
• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate – Harsh cleansing agent that can potentially damage the lipid layer of your skin and cause irritation
• Petrolatum/Mineral Oil/Paraffin – Non-renewable byproducts of crude oil with potentially dangerous impurities
• Chemical Sunscreens (Avobenzone/Oxybenzone) –Synthetic sunscreens that get absorbed and potentially disrupt hormone balance
• Glycols – Petroleum derived synthetic chemicals that can potentially draw other chemicals into the bloodstream
• Phthalates – Synthetic fragrance components that are potential toxins
• Ethoxylated ingredients like Sodium Myreth Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate, PEGs or PPGs –Ingredients that are made in part with the petrochemical ethylene oxide, that results in 1,4 Dioxane as a trace contaminant, classified as a possible carcinogen
• Ethanolamines like MEA/DEA/TEA – Foam and viscosity boosting ingredients that can interact with other ingredients to form nitrosamines, a known carcinogen
• Synthetic polymers (PVP/ Acrylates) - Synthetic stabilizers that may contain residual PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons); most widespread organic pollutant
• Formaldehyde Donors (DMDM Hydantoin/Diazolidinyl Urea/Methylisothiazolinone) – Preservatives that work by releasing formaldehyde
This is fantastic. Thank you for chronicling your brand journey so beautifully. It's a shot of commercial inspiration at a time that I can use one.
ReplyDeleteI saw your name in the Free Press this morning and took my cup of Peet's (need to try your favorite) over to the Mac to check it out. I was so inspired, but also impressed. You guys know the drill (I infer you've done this before, maybe for other folks?) and have picked the right partners so far. I worked with Place on a project a couple years ago and I seriously was thinking about recommending them to you as I read. I was scrolling in reverse chronological order from the top and wasn't all that surprised to see Steve and David's pictures below when I got there.
I've been doing the brand marketing thing for awhile, first at General Mills, at Seventh Generation, as a consultant and now at Bruegger's. It looks like you're currently well served with advice but if you think there are any holes still with questions on distribution, buyer pitches, etc. or want to run further brand identity stuff by another set of eyes. Give me a call. Work is 652-9209. It would be fun to talk. Good luck. -Tom Piper
Love what you're doing. Best wishes for sure. Go Vermont !! Have you heard of Rainshadow Labs (bulk product, packaging, formulations etc ?) If you have Lavendar Oil, could use some for my two autistic boys. bizboy13@yahoo.com
ReplyDelete@ tom.piper - thanks for the encouragement. would love to learn more. i'll make a point of calling.
ReplyDelete@ anon - thank you! we're delighted to be doing this from Vermont. have not heard of Rainshadow but will look into it. thanks again.