One of my favourite Aussie brands, Bloom Cosmetics, recently had some good news. RMIT University has named savvy businesswoman, Natalie Bloom, who is the founder of Bloom, its Alumnus of the Year for 2012 in recognition of her achievements in business and the community. She received the award, which honours one outstanding graduate from RMIT each year, at an award ceremony at RMIT’s Storey Hall on 21 March.

Natalie started the business in her parents’ Melbourne home that has grown into a global cosmetics company, Bloom Pty Ltd, which has a focus on natural ingredients and a strong design sensibility.

With this good news, I had the pleasure of conducting an email interview with Natalie. I was bursting with questions to ask her, but I thought I’d keep it short and sweet. Well, for now, that is 😛

What advice do you have for budding women entrepreneurs and/or for the ladies who would like to start their own business but am afraid to do so?

I always insist passion and integrity are the keys to success. When you truly love what you do, it stops feeling like work and becomes a natural part of you. If you’re not passionate, it’s hard to sustain the long term in business.

What were some of the challenges you faced when you first started Bloom from your parents’ home?

I was a one man band, doing everything from product design to packing orders. When my first order came in from MYER I was beside myself! As I didn’t have a warehouse, let alone an office, I set up a production line in the family kitchen and began packing all the orders myself. Needless to say, receiving my first order was a highlight of my career. Although it was a challenge, I was never afraid to get my hands dirty and did everything it took to get the job done.

When did you know you’ve finally made it amongst your peers in the beauty industry?

I was recently named RMIT’s Alumnus of the Year. This accolade allowed me to reflect on what my company has achieved. When you’ve got your head down and are working hard you don’t often stop to think about your success. Being awarded the RMIT Alumnus of the Year was a very special moment for me as it was awarded by a wider design community of fashion design, architecture and textile design – all fields so close to my own heart. While Bloom is firstly a beauty brand, it is also a brand committed to product integrity and a strong design sensibility, so I was incredibly proud and humbled that my approach to business was recognized by my peers in the design industry.

Now that you have the Bloom Organics skin and body care line, are there any plans to create an organic makeup line?

For the moment we are focusing on organic skin and body care. But, when developing products for Bloom, I have always been driven by the philosophy that whenever possible we should incorporate quality natural and botanical ingredients. Our Pure Mineral range was a natural extension of this approach. I truly believe healthy beauty doesn’t get much better than in this range! Not all mineral makeup products are created equal. Unlike many other products on the market, Bloom’s Pure Mineral range is completely free of binders, preservatives, oil and talc which means it won’t clog pores or irritate your skin. It’s what’s left out of mineral makeup that makes it so good for the skin.

What future plans do you have for Bloom? Will there be a Bloom fragrance? 🙂

I can’t reveal too much, but I can reveal that we are already working on Christmas 2012. Watch this space!

Although there aren’t any plans for a Bloom fragrance just yet, I can’t tell you how much I adore perfume! Fragrance is like a love affair; each time you invite that scent onto your skin, it forges your identity and leaves you feeling elegant, feminine and complete. I love to collect beautiful perfume bottles; they are my glass menageries of romance and intrigue.

Thanks Natalie, for taking the time to answer my questions. My heartiest congratulations on your amazing achievement!