Thank you so much to everyone who joined our recent focus group. We’re genuinely grateful for your time, honesty, and thoughtful answers. It’s given us an incredibly rich picture of what you think and feel about Hark & Zander — and where we’re heading next.
Here’s a little behind-the-scenes look at what you shared with us, what we’re working on, and how your feedback is helping shape the future of our small NZ skincare brand.
How You First Found Hark & Zander
When we asked how you discovered us, the top answers were:
- Gifts from friends or family — showing the real power of word of mouth.
- Subscription boxes like MyTreat or Retreat Yourself.
- Collaborations with Karen Murrell or Kula in Muriwai.
- Media stories and events, including conferences where Kirsty has spoken.
A surprising stat? Around 65% of you said you were first introduced to Hark & Zander through generosity — either as a gift or sample. It reminded us of the old Estée Lauder approach of giving away day cream until people came back for more. It’s exactly why we love popping surprises into orders or sharing face oil rollers. Yes, it’s good business, but it also simply makes someone’s day.
Who You Are: The H&Z Community
Your responses painted a beautiful picture of who we’re creating for:
- Minimalist skincare lovers: many of you prefer simple, effective routines.
- Wellness-focused & ingredient-aware: you care deeply about what goes on your skin.
- Perimenopausal and beyond: around half of you told us you’re in this stage, looking for nourishment, not irritation.
We’re honestly so proud to be creating for people who are thoughtful, conscious and intentional.
What Matters Most to You in a Skincare Brand
The top values you highlighted were:
- Natural ingredients
- NZ-made
- Ethical & sustainable practices
- Light textures, low scent
- Beautiful but eco-conscious packaging
- Products that actually work
We hear you — and this is absolutely our heart too.
On packaging, we wanted to share a quick update. New Zealand has just introduced a levy on glass, while the EU is moving towards regulations favouring lighter, recyclable plastics. We’re doing the work behind the scenes to compare carbon footprints, life cycles and recyclability of every format. When we first launched four years ago, our heavier, luxurious boxes made sense. Now that we’re growing, we know we need to evolve — and we are.
What Else You’re Using
It was lovely to see how many of you use Hark & Zander exclusively, but also equally lovely to hear the other brands in your cabinets:
Emma Lewisham, Trilogy, Ethique, Glow Lab, Skinnies, plus many other clean beauty favourites.
Being mentioned in the same breath as these beautiful brands is such a compliment. We’re still growing and don’t yet offer everything — things like eye cream and SPF are on our radar (more on that below).
Where You Shop
Around 80% of you shop directly through our website, which we’ve worked hard to keep easy to navigate and secure.
We’re also in some gorgeous retail spaces across New Zealand, Australia and Hong Kong, with new additions including our first spa and beauty clinic just this month. (Watch our socials as we officially welcome them!)
Big dream? Taking this small NZ brand global. Mecca is still a milestone on our local wish list, but honestly, it’s your support that makes all of this even possible.
Your Suggestions — And What’s Coming
We absolutely loved your ideas. Here’s where we’re at on a few of them:
Eye Cream:
We’re trialling new formulations right now. It’s tricky because Kirsty’s own skin is super sensitive — even top-shelf eye creams often sting or leave her puffy. We had an early version in the works that didn’t quite pass the test. Now we’ve got a new one we’re excited about. Once it’s right, you’ll be first to know (and try).
SPF:
We started exploring this early on, but many natural options left a white cast or felt heavy. With new NZ sunscreen regulations, we paused — but we’re looking again. We want to get it exactly right.
Travel sizes & samples:
You told us how helpful these are. Our face oil rollers have been one step, letting you share the love easily. More travel-friendly sizes are on the horizon, balancing cost, quality and timing.
What We’re Taking Away From This
- You care deeply about natural, effective, ethically-made skincare — and so do we.
- This isn’t just a customer base, it’s a community. From referrals and gifting to your thoughtful feedback, you’re helping shape what we create next.
- You’ve reminded us that building things with care is always worth it. We don’t rush new launches. Every new product goes through countless trials. When it lands, you can trust it’s been made with integrity, not urgency.
Thank You for Being On This Journey With Us
At the end of the day, you’re not supporting a faceless corporation. You’re backing a small New Zealand skincare brand with a big heart and even bigger dreams.
Every purchase, every share, every message means the world. You’re the reason we get to keep growing.
Thank you for your support, your time, and your voice. This is just the beginning — and we’re so lucky to have you with us.
Kirsty & the Hark & Zander Team x
