The story of how Malcolm Rands, an organic gardener and hippy from Northland, built the pioneering global brand ecostore. Malcolm Rands started ecostore from New Zealand's first permaculture eco-village with his wife Melanie in 1993. They sourced local manufacturers to make a range of organic gardening, home cleaning and body care products for the then mail-order business in the dug-out basement of their home. Twenty years on and Malcolm has developed ecostore into a multi-million dollar business. It's distinctive, masterfully branded products are on the shelves of supermarkets and health stores in New Zealand, Australia, the US, Hong Kong, Singapore and China, and they are poised for further global expansion. This inspirational memoir gives an insight into the mind of an entrepreneur, activist and true Kiwi 'superhero'. It's a fascinating story of humble beginnings, taking on the multinationals and their nasty chemicals, bucking the trend and setting a new standard of healthier living. At latest count, there are more than 84,000 chemicals in existence for commercial use, with 1000 new ones being developed every year.
Malcolm is more determined than ever to work toward restoring the health and wellbeing of New Zealand by making it easier for people to be green. This book includes his tips on how to green up your home and office, his thoughts on New Zealand's 'pure' image and some timely lessons in sustainability.
Author Biography
Malcolm Rands, whose personal and business stories are told in Ecoman, is the founder and CEO of ecostore Company Ltd, New Zealand's leading manufacturer and retailer of plant-based household cleaning, body care and baby care products that are healthier for people and the environment with no nasty chemicals. After travelling and working as a radiographer in Australia, the USA and the UK, Malcolm returned to New Zealand and a career in the community arts. A combined interest in fostering communities and green activism led Malcolm and friends to establish an eco-village in Northland. From there, Malcolm and wife Melanie started ecostore in 1993. A move to Auckland to set up an iconic store in Auckland's Freemans Bay led to further growth and the creation of a state of the art ISO14001, carboNZero certified manufacturing facility with world renowned scientist Sir Ray Avery leading their product development. It is a new business model where a commercial business supports a not-for-profit business, the Fairground Foundation. For two years Malcolm appeared on TVNZ's Good Morning Show as 'Ecoman', giving advice on how to 'green up' your life. As well as an astute businessman, Malcolm is still a keen organic gardener. He lives between Auckland and his permaculture eco-village in Northland.
