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Formerly | Schmidt's Deodorant Company |
---|---|
Industry | Personal Care |
Founded | 2015
![]() |
Fate | Acquired by Unilever (2017) |
Headquarters | , |
Key people |
|
Products | Personal Care & Home Products |
Parent | Unilever |
Website |
schmidts |
Schmidt's Deodorant Company, LLC (dba Schmidt's Naturals) [1] is an American personal care company based in Portland, Oregon. A subsidiary of Unilever, Schmidt's Naturals manufactures and sells plant and mineral-based personal care products including natural deodorant, soap, and toothpaste. [2] [3] [4] [5]
In 2011 Jaime Schmidt, a mother and social worker in Portland, Oregon, began making personal care products in her kitchen. [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] Over the next 4 years, Schmidt sold her products at farmers’ markets and co-ops around Portland, eventually gaining shelf space at a regional Whole Foods. [11] [12] By 2014, Schmidt had refined her all-natural product line down to five deodorant scents, all sold in small glass jars with an applicator. [12] [13] [14]
In late 2014, Schmidt accepted investor Michael Cammarata's offer to invest in her company in exchange for equity. [12] [15] [16] In January 2015, the new partners, Cammarata and Schmidt officially formed Schmidt's Deodorant Company, LLC.
Over the next two years, Schmidt and Cammarata grew the new company rapidly from 4 employees to over 160: [12] moving from a 1,200-square-foot space to a 5,000-square-foot (460 m2) facility and then into one almost three times that size. [12] [15] During this time, with Cammarata focused on the business and Schmidt on the product, the company introduced new formulations, produced a stick variation, and rebranded. [17] [18] [19]
In 2016, Schmidt's launched an exclusive partnership with its first big retailer Target.com and was named Manufacturer of the Year in the small company category by the Portland Business Journal. [14] [20] By late 2016, Schmidt's had grown to almost 50 employees and offered 10 stick deodorants and 6 jar formulations. [12] As the naturals segment continued to grow, Schmidt's Deodorant Company attracted the attention of large retailers. [21]
In June 2017, Schmidt and Cammarata were named Pacific NorthWest Entrepreneurs of the Year by EY (formerly Ernst & Young). [22] In September, they introduced a line of plant and mineral-based soaps, rebranding the company as Schmidt's Naturals; in November, they released toothpastes. [6] [12] [23] By late 2017, the company had scaled to 120 employees with a 30,000 square-foot facility in Portland, Oregon and customer support center in Florida. [24]
In December 2017, after months of negotiation by Schmidt and Cammarata, Unilever, acquired Schmidt's Naturals for an undisclosed sum. [25] [26] [27] After the acquisition, Cammarata became chief executive officer of Schmidt's Naturals [14] and Schmidt continued on as brand spokesperson. [28] [29] [30] [31] [32] Following the Unilever acquisition, the company broadened its product line with the introduction of body wash, mouthwash, and home care products. [15] Between January and August 2018, with Cammarata at the helm, Schmidt's Naturals grew by 300% in sales. [33]
In August 2018, Schmidt's Naturals partnered with Cammarata's family friend, Jane Goodall to develop the special edition deodorant scent “Lily of the Valley” with 5% of the proceeds going to the Jane Goodall Institute. [34] In May 2019, Schmidt's announced a collaboration with pop star Justin Bieber to create a new deodorant called “Here + Now,” which was designed for sensitive skin. [35] The company also started using an AI platform, Alexander, to handle its customer services and to collect data. [36] In July 2019, Schmidt's Naturals began selling deodorant products with hemp seed oil, including Rose + Black Pepper and Sage + Vetiver. [37] In July 2019, Michael Cammarata left the company and Unilever executive Ryu Yokoi transitioned to chief executive officer. [38]
![]() | This article has multiple issues. Please help
improve it or discuss these issues on the
talk page. (
Learn how and when to remove these template messages)
|
Formerly | Schmidt's Deodorant Company |
---|---|
Industry | Personal Care |
Founded | 2015
![]() |
Fate | Acquired by Unilever (2017) |
Headquarters | , |
Key people |
|
Products | Personal Care & Home Products |
Parent | Unilever |
Website |
schmidts |
Schmidt's Deodorant Company, LLC (dba Schmidt's Naturals) [1] is an American personal care company based in Portland, Oregon. A subsidiary of Unilever, Schmidt's Naturals manufactures and sells plant and mineral-based personal care products including natural deodorant, soap, and toothpaste. [2] [3] [4] [5]
In 2011 Jaime Schmidt, a mother and social worker in Portland, Oregon, began making personal care products in her kitchen. [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] Over the next 4 years, Schmidt sold her products at farmers’ markets and co-ops around Portland, eventually gaining shelf space at a regional Whole Foods. [11] [12] By 2014, Schmidt had refined her all-natural product line down to five deodorant scents, all sold in small glass jars with an applicator. [12] [13] [14]
In late 2014, Schmidt accepted investor Michael Cammarata's offer to invest in her company in exchange for equity. [12] [15] [16] In January 2015, the new partners, Cammarata and Schmidt officially formed Schmidt's Deodorant Company, LLC.
Over the next two years, Schmidt and Cammarata grew the new company rapidly from 4 employees to over 160: [12] moving from a 1,200-square-foot space to a 5,000-square-foot (460 m2) facility and then into one almost three times that size. [12] [15] During this time, with Cammarata focused on the business and Schmidt on the product, the company introduced new formulations, produced a stick variation, and rebranded. [17] [18] [19]
In 2016, Schmidt's launched an exclusive partnership with its first big retailer Target.com and was named Manufacturer of the Year in the small company category by the Portland Business Journal. [14] [20] By late 2016, Schmidt's had grown to almost 50 employees and offered 10 stick deodorants and 6 jar formulations. [12] As the naturals segment continued to grow, Schmidt's Deodorant Company attracted the attention of large retailers. [21]
In June 2017, Schmidt and Cammarata were named Pacific NorthWest Entrepreneurs of the Year by EY (formerly Ernst & Young). [22] In September, they introduced a line of plant and mineral-based soaps, rebranding the company as Schmidt's Naturals; in November, they released toothpastes. [6] [12] [23] By late 2017, the company had scaled to 120 employees with a 30,000 square-foot facility in Portland, Oregon and customer support center in Florida. [24]
In December 2017, after months of negotiation by Schmidt and Cammarata, Unilever, acquired Schmidt's Naturals for an undisclosed sum. [25] [26] [27] After the acquisition, Cammarata became chief executive officer of Schmidt's Naturals [14] and Schmidt continued on as brand spokesperson. [28] [29] [30] [31] [32] Following the Unilever acquisition, the company broadened its product line with the introduction of body wash, mouthwash, and home care products. [15] Between January and August 2018, with Cammarata at the helm, Schmidt's Naturals grew by 300% in sales. [33]
In August 2018, Schmidt's Naturals partnered with Cammarata's family friend, Jane Goodall to develop the special edition deodorant scent “Lily of the Valley” with 5% of the proceeds going to the Jane Goodall Institute. [34] In May 2019, Schmidt's announced a collaboration with pop star Justin Bieber to create a new deodorant called “Here + Now,” which was designed for sensitive skin. [35] The company also started using an AI platform, Alexander, to handle its customer services and to collect data. [36] In July 2019, Schmidt's Naturals began selling deodorant products with hemp seed oil, including Rose + Black Pepper and Sage + Vetiver. [37] In July 2019, Michael Cammarata left the company and Unilever executive Ryu Yokoi transitioned to chief executive officer. [38]