Workshop: How to start your own business

Date: Saturday 12th July 2025 
Time:10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Price: $450 per person (GST inclusive)
Location: 47 Carrington Road, Marrickville NSW 2204
Instructor: Rita Sellars
Format: Interactive Showroom Experience

Workshop Overview

Brand New Beginnings or a Brand Overhaul?
If you want to launch your own skincare or cosmetics brand, or if you already have one and want to improve your offering, this is the ultimate workshop for you.
You’ll walk away with practical knowledge, valuable tools, and industry insights to help you go from product idea to a successful market launch.

Topics Covered

Session 1: Building a Brand

• How do I get started? Decoding your business structure, setting a realistic budget, and mapping a launch timeline.
• Finding your tribe – Understanding your target customer and building a community around your brand.
• Branding – What makes a brand memorable, and how do you build one?
• Packaging – Learn how to select the right packaging for your formula, including functional, aesthetic, and sustainable considerations. We’ll also explore packaging options available directly through New Directions.

Session 2: Focus on Formulation + Compliance

• Product Philosophy – Understand cosmetic ingredients, what makes an ingredient functional, and how to align your formula with your brand values.
• Cosmetic vs. Therapeutic – Navigating the grey area between cosmetics and TGA-listed products and understanding the different regulations and government organisations that regulate our personal care products.
• Safety & Testing – Learn how to prove your products are safe with stability, micro, and preservative efficacy testing.
• Label Law 101 – Get confident with your legal obligations as a brand owner: ingredient listings, claims, packaging declarations, and mandatory label elements.
• Certifications – What does “natural,” “organic,” “cruelty-free,” or “vegan” mean in practice? Learn what certifications are available and how they can support your brand story.

Session 3: Product Development Essentials

• From Benchmarking to Branding – Use market insights to define your product’s position, stand-out features, and price point.
• Function meets Design – Understand compatibility between your formula and packaging (e.g., glass vs. plastic, pump vs. dropper).
• Stock vs. Custom Packaging – Know when to start simple and when to scale.
• Sustainable & Ethical Packaging – Explore recyclable, refillable, and low-waste packaging strategies that align with today’s conscious consumers.
• Filling & Production – Planning for hand-filling vs. contract manufacturing, including tips to avoid costly mistakes.

Session 4: Preparing to Launch

• Pricing – Learn how to calculate cost-per-unit, wholesale pricing, and RRP using industry-standard formulas.
• Logistics – Understand lead times, supply chain planning, and how to manage manufacturing timelines.
• Getting Stocked – From e-commerce to retail, learn how to pitch to stockists and build visibility in a crowded market.
• Shipping & Fulfilment – Learn what works, what's allowed (hazardous goods like essential oils), and how to protect your product in transit.
• Scaling Up – When and how to grow your range, bring in a contract manufacturer, or outsource parts of your business.

What's Included

• A comprehensive workshop workbook
• A bundle of complimentary goodies
• Delicious catered lunch and afternoon tea — just bring your energy and curiosity!
• The opportunity to connect with fellow creatives, entrepreneurs, and skincare enthusiasts

Instructor Profile

Rita Sellars

 

Rita Sellars is a highly respected Cosmetic Chemist, Formulation Scientist, and Educator with over 25 years of experience in the personal care and homecare industries. As the Founder and Director of pH Factor, she has built a reputation as a leader in cosmetic formulation, product development, manufacturing, regulatory compliance, and education. Her deep knowledge of ingredient functionality, formulation science, and product development makes her a sought-after mentor for formulators of all levels—whether they are new to the industry or looking to enhance their expertise.

 

Rita has played a pivotal role in the development and launch of numerous skincare brands, working with both startups and established companies to bring high-performance, market-ready formulations to life. She specialises in guiding formulators through every stage of product creation, from ingredient selection and stability testing to claims substantiation and regulatory compliance.

 

With a strong background in education, Rita is known for her ability to translate complex scientific principles into practical, real-world knowledge. She has mentored hundreds of students and industry professionals, helping them navigate the formulation process with confidence. Her hands-on workshops provide a rare opportunity to learn directly from one of Australia’s leading formulation experts, offering insights into skincare trends, ingredient innovations, and formulation techniques that meet modern consumer demands.

 

Rita has recently been featured in an article in Professional Beauty Magazine, about Skincare, Regulations and Startups.

 

Her workshops are designed to empower formulators of all levels with the scientific knowledge and hands-on skills required to develop safe, effective, and compliant skincare products.

Whether you are starting your formulation journey or looking to refine your techniques, Rita’s workshops offer an unparalleled opportunity to learn from one of the best in the industry.

 

REGISTER YOUR INTEREST

Disclaimer:

New Directions will make every effort to ensure that the workshop and the program content will take place as advised. Please note however, New Directions reserves the right to cancel or make changes to any workshop and its content at any time as circumstances dictate. In the event that a workshop is cancelled by New Directions, the registrant will be entitled to a credit or refund to the value of the cost of the workshop only. New Directions will not be financially responsible for consequential losses such as airfares, accommodation and so on. Should a workshop be cancelled, registrants will be notified by email or phone with as much notice as possible. Every effort will be made to provide a workshop of equivalent standard and value at a future date and registrants will be advised of the same.

Workshop Booking Cancellation Policy:

Once a workshop booking has been confirmed, all workshop bookings are non-refundable however may be transferred to another date if available, gifted to a nominated person, or a credit to the maximum value of the workshop can be saved to use for purchases of New Directions products and services via the website, over the phone or within our showroom. Workshop booking cancellations must be made no later than 7-days prior to the scheduled date of the workshop.