simply better for you

1600 533 In Good Company | Northern Rivers
simply clean logo

Simply Clean

7/7 Snow Street, Lismore, NSW 2480

www.simplycleanhome.com.au

Visit Lismore Northern Rivers-01
simply better for you

It’s probably no surprise that it was a cleaning company that was the most well organised of all the businesses Huw and Becky Jones found for sale when they moved to the Northern Rivers with their family in 2010.

Huw, who had left his position as CEO of a small ASX-listed chemical company, had the vision to extend the eco-cleaning products from the commercial to retail markets, and within the first year and a half of buying the business, the retail brand Simply Clean was born.

“The focus for Simply Clean was mainly on human health rather than just on eco-friendly,” Huw says. “We knew there was a growth in the ‘me’ attitude – people had rapidly become as much concerned about the health of themselves and their family as the environment.”

But most importantly the products they were developing had to perform superbly, Huw says. “An eco-product that doesn’t perform isn’t an eco-product – it’s a waste of space.”

Simply Clean launched with four products in 2013: a laundry powder, disinfectant cleaner, air freshener and hand soap – all made from locally grown lemon myrtle that’s native to the region.

The first months of business are rarely easy, and Huw did the labour-intensive work of travelling from door to door, mainly to health food stores, around the Northern Rivers and up through the Gold Coast and Brisbane, to let stores know about the new Simply Clean products.

“Everything is hard to start with because no-one knows who you are. You’re basically trying to find people who’ll give you a go,” Huw says.

The Green Garage in Byron Bay was where Simply Clean had its first break.

“The owner, Nathan, was keen on supporting local so he gave us a try. And of course Green Garage was a brilliant start because not only do you get local sales, you get huge exposure nationally because of all the tourists who go in – so that was wonderful.”

Huw made a rustic product stand by hand from floorboards he’d ripped up from his home during a renovation and waited anxiously on their first sales figures.

“The first month was ok, and the second month was very good indeed. That’s when we knew we had great products.”

Huw and Becky are still very grateful to Green Garage and other Northern Rivers’ businesses that supported Simply Clean in its early days: Go Vita in Ballina, the Bangalow Post Office, The Source in Mullumbimby, Byron IGA and Lismore’s Affordable Bulk Foods.

“Everything is hard to start with because no-one knows who you are”

Armed with strong sales graphs and word of mouth that was gathering momentum, Huw and Becky enjoyed increasing success in placing their products in stores, and began to expand their reach as well as their range.

Simply Clean now has 20 different products, and while its core ingredient remains lemon myrtle from The Channon, it also uses Australian eucalyptus, mandarin and lime.

Simply Clean is a business growth success story, with product sales enjoying 40% growth year on year, and three expansions of factory space in three years. The product is sold across Australia and exports to New Zealand and Hong Kong, with further expansion set for Asia later this year.

Huw says the Northern Rivers, with its strong reputation for natural products and natural living, is the obvious home for their products, and Lismore is the region’s business hub.

“Whatever people say about what’s happening on the coast, if you want something done in business – from freight to equipment repair, or anything along the lines of warehousing or distribution – it happens in Lismore,” Huw says.

“And Lismore also has a wonderful vibe about it.”

As the demand for the Simply Clean products continues to grow, Huw says the next challenges for the business will be finding even more factory space in Lismore and building their workforce with people keen on having a career.

They see an opportunity for local councils and business groups to create a growth strategy. “This is an exciting time for the Northern Rivers. As existing businesses thrive and new companies open here, there will be more and more jobs to attract people to move to the region, or to stay here,” Huw says.

“It’s a nice cycle all the way up.”

simply clean lismore 001

Share this story

Read more stories
oatten and hoffman kyogle 002

revving up the community engine

 1000 667 In Good Company | Northern Rivers

Oaten and Hoffman
In 2015 Tim Hoffman was riding the high on business success, and had no clue about the blow that was awaiting him….

edmonds conveyancing ballina 001

home is where the heart is

 1920 847 In Good Company | Northern Rivers

Edmonds Conveyancing
The legal aspects of buying and selling a property are not normally associated with having a laugh and even singing, but the Edmonds Conveyancing…

gateway finefoods kyogle

local, seasonal, transformative gem hits town

 960 639 In Good Company | Northern Rivers

Gateway Fine Foods and Catering
Debbie McQueen has three words of advice for anyone starting a business in Kyogle: flexibility, perseverance and patience. They’re three traits Debbie…

crowd pleasing innovation creates a buzz

 1210 864 In Good Company | Northern Rivers

BeeInventive
It’s difficult to know where to start with the remarkable story of BeeInventive. Perhaps in the humble shed in Byron Shire bushland…

Mount Warning Tours Tweed

a natural business adventure

 1920 1080 In Good Company | Northern Rivers

Mount Warning Tours
Despite only existing for four years, Mount Warning Tours’ short life has been eventful: from purchasing the ex-Murray River ferry Spirit of Wollumbin…

nicholson fine foods yamba

eclectic food innovator shines

 1030 1030 In Good Company | Northern Rivers

Nicholson Fine Foods
The small coastal town of Yamba is home to the one of the world’s best eating prawns, the Eastern King Prawn. It’s also home to the highest…

stone and wood 001

not just a business, a community partner

 960 761 In Good Company | Northern Rivers

Stone & Wood
“That’s like asking parents to name which of their children they prefer,” says Jamie Cook, Stone & Wood co-founder. He has been asked which of the…

old-fashioned approach reaps rewards

 1000 667 In Good Company | Northern Rivers

Kyogle Country Store
It feels like a brave decision, buying a hardware and rural supplies store in the age of the corporate superstores. Though it was a challenge…

herb blanchard haulage

in for the long haul

 1024 682 In Good Company | Northern Rivers

Herb Blanchard Haulage
If you happen to be in the ‘jacaranda city’ of Grafton or its surrounds and you see a big blue truck out on the roads, the chances are its part of the…

wrightway products 001

right place, right time, right way

 600 436 In Good Company | Northern Rivers

Wrightway Products
The greatest challenge for Jennifer Joy and John Donnelly, the driving force behind Wrightway Products, was getting the world to see the value of…

growing community, growing business

 1600 1066 In Good Company | Northern Rivers

The Farm
It’s a typical Saturday morning at The Farm, on the outskirts of Byron Bay. Families line up for freshly made pastry and coffee. Every table in the…

harwood marine clarence

‘can do’ marine

 1920 1182 In Good Company | Northern Rivers

Harwood Marine
About half way between Yamba and Maclean is the tiny village of Harwood, which sits on the peaceful banks of the Clarence River with its population…

Southern Cross University Lismore

partners with industry, partners with community

 2000 1048 In Good Company | Northern Rivers

Southern Cross University
Celebrating a silver anniversary is a significant milestone, 25 years of developing your relationship, exploring and accepting your strengths…

simply clean lismore 001

simply better for you

 1600 533 In Good Company | Northern Rivers

Simply Clean
It’s probably no surprise that it was a cleaning company that was the most well organised of all the businesses Huw and Becky Jones found for sale…

OConnors carriers tweed 001

community keeps on carrying on

 1920 1288 In Good Company | Northern Rivers

O’Connors Carrying Service
Friday 30 March 2017 is a day Paul and Sue O’Connor won’t forget. The owners of O’Connors Carrying Service left their depot in Murwillumbah…

air t&g ballina helicpoters 002

flying high, with a helicopter view

 800 531 In Good Company | Northern Rivers

Air T&G
Northern Rivers is well known for its breathtaking natural beauty, and imagine if your day at the office involved enjoying these views from the air…

island collective yamba

collectively creative social heaven

 1080 823 In Good Company | Northern Rivers

Island Collective
If you are looking for contemporary artist and stylist Fleur Yorston, you’ll most likely find her among fiddle leaf figs and cane furniture, in her Yamba…

grafton_physio_business_story_001

let’s get physical

 2000 1165 In Good Company | Northern Rivers

Grafton Physio + Sport
You know you’re in good hands when you visit your physiotherapist and she turns out to be a world-class athlete. That’s the case for those who…

bennett construction lismore 003

back to the future with new inspiration

 1920 781 In Good Company | Northern Rivers

Bennett Construction
It would be fair to say that Bennett Construction and Ballina High School have come full circle with each other. It sounds like a back to the future…

tripadeal_byron_bay

fastest growing, remains humble and local

 1000 667 In Good Company | Northern Rivers

TripADeal
For TripADeal, the figures speak for themselves: revenue in excess of $100million for 2017; 75,000 travellers sent to various…

Start Typing

X