With inflation rates at the highest they've been in many countries for 40 years we know our European community are feeling the cost of living crisis.
Normally we're not ones for a doom and gloom headline but the numbers are hard to put a positive spin on. We want our community to know that we hear you and have thought long and hard about how we can help you manage the rising cost of living.
To understand the extent of the cost of living crisis we conducted our own study in the UK. Our research found that alarmingly 1 in 5 people are worried about being able to afford skincare products* due to the rising cost of living. On top of that, nearly one quarter of people are more concerned about the condition of their skin** since before the cost of living crisis began. At UpCircle it's our firm belief that everyone should be able to care for their skin, because healthy skin is essential for both mental and physical wellbeing.
Here's how we're responding to our findings and committing to helping our community during this financially difficult time. We are...
1. Freezing the RRP's of all UpCircle products until the end of 2022
This is something we've wanted to be able to commit to for a while, so we're ecstatic to be able to finally announce that we're freezing our RRPs. Our research showed that 20% of people have increased their spending on skincare since the cost of living crisis began. We're proud that within the last year we managed to reduce the price of our Body Cream to €22.99 and our Soap Bars to €5.99.
2. Donating £1,200 worth of product to Toiletries Amnesty to help those experiencing hygiene poverty
Everyone should be able to keep clean and look after their skin. Our skin is the largest organ we have, it's our barrier to the world and protects us from harmful bacteria and chemicals. We hope our donation helps provide some relief to those experiencing hygiene poverty.
3. Volunteering at The Euston Foodbank to support those in need
All of Team UpCircle will be taking a volunteering day at The Euston Foodbank in September. The Euston Foodbank are a London based charity providing food to those who need it. Their mantra is that "no one should have to miss a meal" and we can't wait to support them in distributing food to those who need it.
4. Writing to our local MP asking them to provide financial support
All of us at UpCircle have written to our local MP to ask the government to do more to support those who cannot currently afford the rising cost of living. We encourage all our community to do the same.
5. Using our platform to share straightforward money saving tips
We reach 200,000+ people across our online platforms and so it's a no-brainer to use those platforms to help share knowledge and tips to help as many people as possible. We'll be sharing weekly low cost recipes, apps to help your save, ideas for getting the most out of your products and more.
UpCircle was founded on making sustainable skincare at an accessible price point. We want sustainable products to be available to all, and this was always the goal of UpCircle founders (Anna and Will) when they launched the brand aged 22 and 25 - making products they would buy themselves. Price point shouldn’t be a barrier to planet-friendly purchasing. Ethical, sustainable, fairtrade ingredients cost more, but we’re committed to remaining a brand accessible for all. That's why the cost of living crisis is one close to our own hearts, we'll always do our best to ensure we remain accessible to our community.
If you think there are other ways we can support our community then please feel free to drop a comment below.
Team UpCircle x
All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2145 adults of which 1137 were female. Fieldwork was undertaken between 13th - 14th July 2022. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+).