Meet the Business # 36 : Spotlight Oral Care

 

We all know the importance of keeping a balanced dental care routine. From overall hygienic products to new whitening teeth formulas, there is a quite creative market out there offering all kinds of solutions for better oral hygiene.

We’re totally spoilt for choice; however, dental care products can be quite detrimental to the environment too. Every time we consume those products, there is more waste too.

Thinking about that, Spotlight Oral Care came up with a range of oral care products that are sustainable, recyclable, and environmentally friendly whilst being safe, effective, and affordable. We talked to Dr. Lisa & Dr. Vanessa Creaven to know more about the brand.

Midlands Traveller: Tell me a little bit about your background in business.

Once we qualified as dentists, we began our careers working from our clinic in Galway which is where we are still based now when we’re not traveling with Spotlight Oral Care.

MT: How did you come up with your business idea?

We carry out professional whitening from our clinic and we’re often asked if there were any more affordable alternatives that worked.

There was nothing we could recommend so we set about creating our own teeth whitening home kit that was effective and affordable.

The EU regulations are very strict if you want to include Hydrogen Peroxide (which is the only ingredient clinically proven to whiten teeth) in the formula.

It took a couple of years to create the perfect formula for the Spotlight Teeth White Strips but once they launched, they were a huge success.

Since then, we are now stocked across the UK, Ireland, and the US and we have expanded the product range to include a whitening pen, mouthwash, sonic toothbrush, and recyclable toothpaste.

MT: Tell me about Spotlight’s mission.  

We want to make oral care products that are sustainable, recyclable, and environmentally friendly whilst being safe, effective, and affordable.

Dr Lisa & Dr Vanessa

MT: What is unique about your business?

We are a dentist-founded oral care brand with a mission to be more sustainable. Our latest launch of 5 kinds of toothpaste are unique because they are toxin-free, palm oil-free, and vegan-friendly.

MT: What is your kind of clientele?

We appeal not only to vegans but to everyone who wants to find an Eco-friendly alternative to the traditionally plastic-heavy dental products.

People are moving away from single-use plastics and are becoming more and more aware of products that aren’t recyclable and will therefore sit in a landfill for years to come.

MT: What are the challenges of a business like yours?

Finding enough hours in the day to get everything done! We still work at our dental practice when we’re not travelling so it’s full-on and all-consuming, but we love it.

MT: How is Spotlight Oral Care helping people to adapt themselves to a more sustainable lifestyle?

We give people an easy and affordable way to move away from non-recyclable products, one toothpaste tube at a time. It’s easy to make the switch and every little change helps.

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MT: What advice would you give to someone thinking about having a business like yours?

If you’re passionate about something and are willing to put the work in, go for it! It’s very rewarding seeing your vision come to life.

MT: How is social media important to the success of your business?

Social media is huge for us. We have managed to build nearly 50,000 followers in the past 3 years. It’s a great tool for us to do dental Q&A, connect with our fabulous clients and answer any queries people might have.

MT: What are the next steps for Spotlight Oral Care?

We are launching into more stores in the UK and US, which is very exciting. We’re also working on some even more specialised dental kits to ensure we have a product to suit everyone’s dental needs.

Spotlight Oral Care on Social Media

Twitter | Instagram

Simone Ribeiro
Hi! I'm Simone, a citizen of Britain, where I live for over a decade, and of Brazil, where I was born. Midlands Traveller is where I combine my passion for travelling, business and an Eco-friendly lifestyle.