Bondi Sands is an Australian self tanning brand.[1] The brand specialises in self tanners, suncare, skincare and cosmetics.[2] The business was established in 2012 and operates in Oceania as well as the USA, UK & Europe.[3]
Bondi Sands products are stocked in over 30,000 retail stores worldwide.[4]
History of brand and international expansion[edit]
The Bondi Sands brand was created in 2012 in Melbourne, Australia by Shaun Wilson and Blair James.[5] The brand is named after Australia's most famous beach – Bondi Beach.[6]
In 2012, the founders offered their products to the retailer Priceline.[7] The chain agreed to sell three Bondi Sands products. As of 2021, Bondi Sands holds 60 percent of the market share in Australia.[8]
In 2013, Bondi Sands launched in New Zealand. The brand's products appeared in Greencross, Farmers and Countdown.[citation needed]
Bondi Sands entered the British market in 2015. The company started distributing through British retailers Superdrug and Boots.[1] In 2018, Bondi Sands launched in Ireland and the Netherlands. In the same year, the company became one of the largest Australian owned beauty brand exporters.[9]
The brand soon distributed through American retailer, Walgreens, and began selling in pharmacy stores on January 1, 2019. During the year, Bondi Sands products were available in over 7,700 Walgreens stores, the largest launch of an Australian beauty brand in the United States.[2][3] The company also distributes through other American beauty stores such as Ulta Beauty, Target, CVS and Rite Aid.[10]
USA customers account for 80 percent of the company's online sales.[1]
Bondi Sands started its expansion into the Canadian market in 2020.[12]
The brand opened on Chinese Tmall in 2021. At the same time, Bondi Sands products appeared on Chinese e-commerce platforms including Little Red Book and TaoBao. In 2021, the brand released the first sustainable line called Pure. All products in the line are packaged in ethically sourced, 100% recyclable packaging.[13] The company has also started cooperating with Australian charity Take 3 for the Sea. During World Earth Month, Bondi Sands donated $25,000 to Take 3 for the Sea.[14]
In the same year, the brand signed a three-year deal with the Australian Open and became the Official Sunscreen Partner, heroing their range of Sport SPF 50+ Sunscreen products.[15] Bondi Sands was also a partner in all events of the Summer Series 2021.[16]
The company's products are manufactured across three facilities in Melbourne. Bondi Sands has offices in Melbourne, Los Angeles and London.[17]
Bondi Sands products are vegan, cruelty free and Peta certified.[18][19][20] The company is committed to sustainable practices, where by 2025 all packaging will be fully recyclable and contain recyclable materials.[21]
Bondi Sands operates a global ambassador program involving Kylie Jenner,[22] James Charles, Tammy Hembrow, Carli Bybel, Natalie Halcro, Charlotte Crosby, Holly Hagan, Gary Beadle, Megan McKenna and Michael Finch promoting the range. The latest ambassador for Bondi Sands is Miss Universe 2012, model Olivia Culpo.[23]
Throughout the Australian Open Bondi Sands has worked with Tennis stars, where in 2021 Daria Gavrilova was their official brand ambassador, and in 2022 former Tennis World Champion Lleyton Hewitt and his son, Cruz Hewitt partnered with the brand.[16]
Bondi Sands develops its Instagram and TikTok pages, collaborates with bloggers and influencers, and works on brand awareness. The brand highlights the Australian beach lifestyle of the sand, sea and sun, emulating this to their global community.[24] The company is trying to change the attitude to tanning and skin health.[25]
Bondi Sands launched the latest innovation in Self Tanning in April 2019, Aero Aerated Self Tanning Foam.[26] Thanks to its Coachella activation, the worldwide Aero product launch saw the brand break into the top ten skin care brands with $2.9million EMV. It saw a 234% increase in month-over-month growth.[27]
The Coachella activation was supported by Australian, UK and US influencers who attended the Aero launch party. After the party, Aero became the best-selling product in Walgreens.[28]
Bondi Sands added a fifth product to the Aero range, Aero Ultra Dark in January 2020.[29]
In support of relief efforts for the 2019–20 Australian bushfire season, Bondi Sands donated $100,000 divided between the Salvation Army and WIRES Wildlife Rescue.[30] They also created two reusable frank green products, with 100% of all proceeds being donated to the Red Cross to support community recovery across Australia.[31]