Assembling the Brand: Bonnie Skulark, Founder of Sweet Cream Skincare

Bonnie Skulark is the founder and owner of Sweet Cream Skincare, an organic body care solution for dry skin. As the founder she is actively working on expanding Sweet Cream into a line of personal care products, and has worked in the skincare industry since 2014. She previously has worked with brands like Derma E, Dermalogica, Laura Mercier and Covergirl as an influencer to educate consumers and skin-care enthusiasts alike about new self-care products.

We sat down with the founder to discuss her vision behind the business, pivotal moments for the brand, challenges, and more.

What inspired you to start Sweet Cream Skincare?

Sweet Cream Skincare started as a hobby. I created a cream that would help my son when he was a baby - suffering from early onset eczema. At the time, there was little to nothing available as an organic treatment for eczema. I took matters into my own hands, and started doing research for an at-home treatment for the skin condition.

I was able to turn a greasy formula into a smooth, creamy lotion that would help my son's skin feel - and look normal again. I took matters even further by creating my first plant-based formula that is safe for young children, moms and even cancer patients to safely use as part of their everyday skin care routine. Seeing how much it has helped my son, my own skin, and that of friends and family, I decided to share my creation with my community. In 2019, Sweet Cream Skincare was born and now we currently sell online and in 22 stores nation-wide!

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Consumers are increasingly concerned about what goes into the products they use on their skin. How has your brand woven consumer-friendly practices into your product development journey?

Well that’s an easy answer: we took out the middleman (manufacturer) and took control over what goes into our moisturizers. When I created Sweet Cream Skincare, I specifically had kids in mind because of my son. So of course I wanted ingredients that are strong enough to cure and soothe his eczema, but I also want it to not be filled with chemicals or ingredients tested on animals.

I took matters into my own hands and educated myself on organic ingredients that everyone is already familiar with, including shea butter, coconut butter, essential oils, and aloe vera. I wanted simple ingredients customers are already familiar with, to build trust and connection and solve the problem they are facing.

Congratulations on receiving the award for Best Innovative Business in 2022! Can you delve into the specific ways your brand innovated that led to this recognition?

I was nominated because one of my close friends wanted me to win an award. I joked with her and told her she manifested this into happening. I was recognized because of my method of production for my skincare brand. After 5+ years of being in business, I still use the same formula for each body cream. Over the years, I have changed it a tiny bit to extend its shelf life. Most people are impressed with my formula, and can’t believe it's handmade. The formula is a perfect creamy texture and is sold in over 22 stores nationally - and has gotten my products on the shelves of mass retailers.

Could you share some insights into your most effective marketing and branding strategies that helped your CPG brand stand out in a crowded industry? And where do you see Sweet Cream in the next 5 years?

I continue to find new ways to make an impact on social media. I like partnering with local businesses to help Sweet Cream Skincare reach new audiences and educate them on skincare use. Knowing your platform is key in building brand awareness. Right now, Instagram has been our playground to learn and grow. I want to continue to expand Sweet Cream into more mass retailers like Target, Nordstrom and also open my first warehouse with a manufacturing facility.

What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs looking to start and grow their business in the CPG space?

Just start. You don’t need to be an expert, but you must have an answer to a problem. It has to work.

Sweet Cream organic handmade skincare is made to help consumers with sensitive skin with their everyday skincare routine. Discover further details about what makes Sweet Cream Skincare stand out among the competition.

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