Tell us about Fatglow and how the business began.

Fatglow grew out of a personal journey with my skin and a desire to find something cleaner and more honest. Once I started making my own soaps and skincare and saw what a difference natural ingredients made, I couldn’t go back. After years of making and refining, one question kept nagging at me — why couldn’t tallow be special? It’s always been portrayed as old school, rustic and plain, but the truth is it’s an absolutely incredible ingredient. I wanted to elevate it with beautiful clays and botanicals, make it look and feel as beautiful as it actually is, and give people a genuine alternative to the supermarket products that are just full of fillers and synthetic ingredients. Fatglow was born from that.

What inspired you to create a natural skincare brand?

A deep belief that nature needs no improvement. I wanted to create skincare that was honest, pure and truly good for your skin — no hidden ingredients, no shortcuts, just nature doing what it has always done beautifully. I also wanted to change the perception of tallow. It deserves to be elevated and celebrated, not overlooked.

How has the business grown since you first launched?

I started about a year ago and began selling at Farmers Market Taranaki, which was a brilliant way to connect with my community and get my products in front of real people. From there I worked on building a proper online presence and we officially launched the new website on January 6th this year — a really exciting milestone for Fatglow.

What challenges were you experiencing with your previous website or online presence?

I had made a start on the website myself but reached the point where I needed help to finish it off properly and make it truly beautiful. I wanted the website to genuinely reflect the quality of the products and I knew it needed a professional touch to get there.

Were there any frustrations with your branding, website, or digital systems?

The main frustration was knowing what I wanted the website to feel like but not quite being able to get it there on my own. The vision was clear — luxurious, clean, honest — but bringing that to life online required someone with real design expertise.

What made you decide it was time for a website refresh?

I wanted the online presence to match the brand — polished, considered and luxurious. It was time to bring in someone who could make that happen.

What were your main goals for the project?

To have a website that truly reflected the Fatglow brand — one that felt as beautiful and considered as the products themselves, and that made it easy for customers to shop and connect with the brand.

What did you want customers to feel when they visited your website?

I wanted them to feel like they’d discovered something special. Something that felt luxurious and considered, but also honest and real.

How important was it for your branding to reflect the quality and values of your products?

Incredibly important. Fatglow products are handcrafted with the finest natural ingredients — the branding needed to reflect that same level of care and quality. I didn’t want something generic. I wanted the website to feel as considered and beautiful as the products themselves.

What aspects of the Fatglow brand were most important to communicate online?

That this is genuinely handcrafted, honest skincare made by one person in Taranaki. The purity of the ingredients, the beauty of the botanicals and clays, and the fact that nothing is hidden and nothing is unnecessary.

How do you feel the updated branding and website better represent your business?

The new website finally feels like Fatglow. It captures the quiet luxury of the brand — clean, beautiful and honest, just like the products.

What feedback have you received about the new look and feel?

The response has been really positive. Customers love the look and feel and it absolutely represents what Fatglow is all about.

What was your experience like throughout the website design process?

It was an absolute pleasure from start to finish. Suzanna listened, communicated beautifully and nothing was ever too much trouble. It felt very collaborative and I always felt heard.

Were there any specific features or functionality that were important for your business?

Having a fully functioning online shop was essential, as well as making sure the overall look and feel truly captured the Fatglow brand.

How easy was it to collaborate and provide feedback during the project?

Really easy. Communication was effortless and Suzanna was genuinely encouraging throughout. She made the whole process feel smooth and enjoyable.

What part of the new website are you most excited about?

All of it honestly! I had this vision of elevating tallow with beautiful clays and botanicals and Suzanna truly illustrated that through the website. Everything she did to bring that to life visually just exceeded my expectations. I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out.

How does the website better support your customers compared to before?

Customers can now shop easily online; find everything they need and really get a feel for the brand before they even receive their products. It creates a much more complete and beautiful experience.

Has the website made it easier to manage and grow your business?

Absolutely. Having a professional, fully functioning online store has made a real difference to how I operate and how customers experience Fatglow.

How has the new website supported your business goals?

It’s given Fatglow a proper platform to grow from. The website now truly represents what the brand is about and gives customers a beautiful, trustworthy place to shop.

What impact has having a professional online presence had on your confidence as a business owner?

It’s been huge. Seeing Fatglow presented so beautifully online has made me even more proud of what I’ve built and more confident in where the business is heading.

Why did you choose to work with CYDM?

Suzanna came highly recommended and the fact that she was local was really important to me. Supporting local matters, and it made the whole process feel much more personal.

What stood out about the process compared to other experiences you’ve had?

Suzanna just got it. She truly understood what I wanted for Fatglow and captured it perfectly. The way she translated the feel and values of the brand into something so visually beautiful was beyond what I’d hoped for.

Did the project meet your expectations?

It absolutely did — and then some. Suzanna really delivered something special.