Behind Urban Rituelle is a story of grit, ingenuity and passion. Leanne and Scott Haining share their journey of building a successful business in the evolving world of fragrance.
What inspired the creation of Urban Rituelle and how did the journey begin 25 years ago?
Scott: Urban Rituelle was born from a desire to celebrate the art of daily rituals and self-care. Beginning in a humble Sydney market stall in 1999, fuelled by our overseas adventures and entrepreneurial zeal, we aimed to blend mindfulness and simple luxury into daily life with our naturally crafted products.
How did Urban Rituelle evolve from a small market stall in Glebe to the global brand you are today?
Leanne: Building Urban Rituelle from scratch has been a remarkable journey of passion and perseverance. The leap from a market stall in Glebe to exhibiting at trade fairs was a pivotal step, introducing us to national retailers, new trends and opportunities. This hands-on approach helped us build resilience and also ingrained a deep understanding of the industry. Over 25 years, we’ve grown to a globally recognised brand, continually adapting and evolving, while staying true to our core values of exceptional quality and authenticity.
How is it working in a husband-and-wife partnership and do you both have clearly defined roles?
Scott: Working together as a team has its ups and downs. One of the greatest benefits is sharing a common goal—making the best decisions for our family, business and team. However, the challenge lies in the fact that work often blends into all areas of our life. Recently, we’ve improved at creating clearer boundaries between home and work.
Leanne: As for our roles, they are well-defined, yet there’s always some overlap. I handle the creative direction, marketing, brand building, website management and product development. Scott takes charge of operations, the engine room of the business. As well as overseeing key accounts, international business and drives the adoption of new technology and systems. This division allows us to leverage our strengths and maintain a dynamic balance in our business operations.
Looking back over 25 years, what are you most proud of?
Scott: Reflecting on the past 25 years, I am incredibly proud of so many achievements. Manufacturing in Australia has allowed us to maintain quality and support local industry. Exhibiting at the New York Gift Fair, supplying Anthropologie in over 2500 stores, winning the Australian Small Business Champions Awards and receiving multiple awards for best exhibition stand at the Reed Gift Fairs are all achievements that highlight our commitment to excellence and innovation. Being selected as the scent of Australia for the Olympic villages in Tokyo, Beijing and Paris is also a pinch-me moment.Â
What are your aspirations for the future and how do you envision the next decade?
Leanne: In the next decade, we aim to continue the legacy we’ve built over 25 years, maintaining our commitment to manufacturing in Australia. We plan to upgrade our processes and systems to ensure that all departments—from marketing to finance—are prepared for a strong future. Our focus will be on building and developing an A-grade team dedicated to enhancing and building our business, prioritising what matters most, creating rituals that make people feel good.
Want to read more? Check out the complete article in our wholesale feature in the Spring edition.
