CASE STUDY: IMPACT BOTANICALS
Impact Botanicals Founder, CEO, and Lead Herbalist Rachel Warnock first met Laura of Rizbee Studio in August of 2023.
At that point, Rachel had been producing organic, herb-based, sustainably packaged body care products for over 7 years.
Her team’s mission places “integrity and sustainability” at the core of their business decisions and product lines. That means forging partnerships with trustworthy organizations that share Rachel’s principles and intentionality.
THE PROBLEM
She had trusted her brand aesthetic with a few design professionals before, but only to help with the execution of specific projects, and never with making strategic choices. This was on purpose, as Rachel had been content with Impact Botanicals’ visual identity since the company’s inception.
Still, her serums, sprays, creams, and balms weren’t gaining significant traction in wholesale environments.
Logically, she knew that stalled growth is something many beauty and wellness companies experience, but she was intent on finding a way to jumpstart her wholesale sales.
She had spent the better part of two years considering a name change, a fresh logo, and a total overhaul of her company’s look. And this was before she was asked to be a contestant on The Blox, (a Prime TV show where entrepreneurs compete in business-related challenges for cash and clout.) Now, she put the search for a design partner into high gear.
Rachel had heard about Rizbee Studio’s offerings through her network and was curious about their formula for success.
“I heard they had a track record of increasing wholesale sales and wholesale accounts through their redesign and rebrands. That's really what piqued my interest. Brands are getting rejected, rebranding with Rizbee and then getting landed in wholesale.”
After meeting face-to-face for the first time at a networking event, Rachel contacted Laura for a one-hour review of her current packaging. Their first meeting lasted three and a half hours.
THE PROCESS
Laura began by getting a sense for which elements would stay the same, and which could be updated to better attract target shoppers and wholesale buyers, convey the overall company mission, and stand apart from competitors.
Next, the two collaborated on a mood boarding exercise to capture the emotional feel and visual tone. They crafted a brand map comprised of super specific, nitty gritty details and a “psychological” profile of the company. Rachel decided on a new business name and Laura helped her craft a beautiful logo. Then, Laura set to work on crafting the first round of (close to a dozen) label design proofs for Rachel’s review.
“When we finally saw the first designs, she gave me [about] eleven to choose from and the process was so methodical. That's one of the things that I would say about Rizbee Studios is that they’re thorough. She was asking me about details that I hadn't even noticed.”
Over the course of weekly meetings, initial mockups began to take their final form. To ensure maximum shelf-appeal, they created their own prototypes by taping home-printed labels onto the packages.
THE DECISION
During their first session, the two talked about the Impact Botanicals beauty, body, face, and hair products, which were then bottled in white frosted glass and leaned into a more maximalist aesthetic. Laura asked Rachel about her comfort accepting constructive feedback and ultimately outlined areas in which her visuals were unintentionally communicating the wrong message and potentially cheapening her premium brand.
It was this radical honesty, paired with very helpful insights and best practices, that convinced Rachel to commit to a total rebrand: from packaging to logos, fonts, and colorways. The fact that this seasoned designer was able to convey, “with grace and professionalism and so much kindness in her voice” some particularly hard messages instilled deep trust in her.
And though the excitement was tangible and the respect was mutual, the stakes were sky-high.
“You're trusting somebody else with the representation of your brand and everything that you've poured your heart into for the past decade.”
The duo got to work.
THE PRODUCT + THE FOUNDER IMPACT
Not only was Laura able to craft beautiful labels, identify bottles that matched the new aesthetic, and create a fresh look for her client in just three months, but Rachel was also able to effectively raise prices while selling more than ever before. Together, they pared back the number of unique containers being used. That means there’s more space in the studio for fresh formulations.
Understanding how close she was to the product, Rachel recognized the power of allowing someone with true expertise and a healthy sense of removal to make (informed) branding decisions. Now, she wishes she had done it earlier on in her entrepreneurial journey.
“[With Rizbee], you have somebody who is emotionally invested in your success, who is hyping you up in, in her circles, on her social media, in her world. You have somebody who is not just in it for the job, they're in it for the long-term relationship. And they're going to be there for you always. And I will say, the reactions to the new packaging are overwhelmingly positive. People's jaws are dropping.”
Her retelling of this period of time is laced with pure emotion and a genuine sense of accomplishment.
“It was emotional, it made me reflect on so many levels, it made me think on levels I hadn’t before, stretching my mind and my own self-concept as a CEO. And Laura held and guided the process with grace, skill, confidence, professionalism.”
Now, Rachel and the Impact Botanicals team are excited to pitch to new partners and re-pitch everyone who rejected them.
Rachel’s words of wisdom for other entrepreneurs in the same position:
“I cannot overstate the importance of working with a packaging specialist if you have a packaged product. If you make one investment for your business, it should be to work with Laura and Rizbee Studio. They possess a truly impressive track record as a packaging designer. I can no longer imagine working with anyone else on the visual elements of my brand.”
If you’re looking for a visual refresh, a new logo, new packaging, or all three reach out today.
Rizbee Studios has been offering custom design, branding, and packaging services since 2016. We collaborate directly with clients to generate beautiful and truly effective assets, using a process that marries pure creative enthusiasm with strategic decisions informed by your team’s story, mission, and growth goals. We don’t rest until your products pop off the screen or fly off the shelf.