Trackside showcase for Bells Beach business

Kellie Blair has been humbled by the wonderful response to the all-natural Australian made range of self-care products she has created under The Herbalist Bells Beach brand name.

Started two years ago, Kellie’s business idea grew organically to the point where glowing word-of-mouth recommendations led to her being selected to represent the Great Ocean Road region in a showcase of Victorian manufacturers and makers at Melbourne’s Formula One Grand Prix.

Kellie says five regions will be represented at the trackside activation, with The Herbalist Bells Beach and a handful of other Great Ocean Road brands being showcased today (Saturday, April 9).

 

 

“In a bid to support local business and promote regional producers and makers, the Victorian government is showcasing a select number of businesses from each region at the Grand Prix.

“We have been lucky enough to be chosen as one of the handful of Great Ocean Road producers and makers to attend the event.

“It’s just a bit of exposure for local businesses and a bit of a thank you from the Victorian government and we are so excited to be involved.”

Kellie, a herbalist, made a sea-change from Melbourne to the Surf Coast with her husband Adam in 2019.

After working as a naturopath/herbalist in a pharmacy in Malvern, she was considering her next step when the pandemic hit.

 

 

“When COVID hit everything changed and I was thinking ‘how can I help women get through this?’, and the olfactory was in my mind – I wanted to help them calm down through their sense of smell,” she explains.

“I thought I would put out some nice blends to help them get through the day, to wake up and smell real botanicals.

“No synthetics, no harsh chemicals. I was trying to nurture them through the day.

“That developed from helping them with their hair, through to their skincare, their fragrance and then to the home spray.

“Everything is natural and not irritating. It took on a life of its own after that.”

The range integrates modern science with traditional herbalism to create luxurious botanical care free of nasties.

Lip balms, body washes and facial serums, shampoo and conditioner, fragrances and room mists are among the products which feature in collections with names such as Sky + Clouds, Earth + Wood, and Sea + Water.

 

 

Kellie says there has been a lot of hard work behind the scenes and a costly rebrand to get to this point but together with Adam, who takes care of IT, sales and communications, they are seeing the business blossom.

“All along it was a learning curve. It’s been hard but it’s been incredibly rewarding because everyone who uses it, loves it, so I’m really rapt”.

Kellie explains the high quality products are Australian made and Australian owned, using recycled containers sourced from Melbourne, and raw materials manufactured in Melbourne and Sydney.

“I try to keep it as Australian as possible to support our organic farmers, to support our manufacturers.”

The Herbalist Bells Beach is sold online and stocked at Lorne Pharmacy, The Lighthouse Cottage in Aireys Inlet, From
Around Here in Torquay and Aireys Inlet, Desa Retreat in Jan Juc, Gypsy & Co. in Torquay and Diggers Beach Cottage in Coffs Harbour, with more to come.