Wellness Influencer Interview: Malcolm Rands

NAME: Malcolm Rands

OCCUPATION: Founder and CEO of ecostore

Please tell us a little about your business, yourself and how you got to where you are now in the wellness industry…

We started out in 1993 selling eco friendly cleaning products, organic gardening products and skin care by mail order from our house in an eco village up North. After years of living a life of ‘voluntary simplicity’ on the land, where we grew most of our own food and bought almost nothing new, it made sense to start out with a more familiar eco focus. The funny thing was, that almost straight away we started getting letters and emails from our customers telling us that our products were making a huge difference to their health. It makes sense that if people switch to plant and mineral based products without nasty chemicals it’s got to be better for their health, but there’s way more to it than that.

First of all there’s been a lot of work to do in terms of raising awareness of the vast number of unsafe chemicals in our homes and how we can reduce our overall exposure to them. For example, chemical residues from your laundry products are in your clothing, sheets, underwear and are up against your skin 24/7 – these chemicals which include optical whiteners, enzymes and synthetic perfumes and dyes have the potential to irritate your skin and even to be absorbed in minute amounts. Adding to the daily chemical mix are endocrine disrupting chemicals like parabens in many brands of skincare and antibacterial chemicals like Triclosan in toothpaste and handwash and well – you get the picture.

Health comes first for us now, in fact there are even some plant-based chemicals that we won’t use, such as SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulphate), Cocamide DEA and CAPB (Cocamidopropyl Betaine) We still get so many letters of support for the work we do and it really makes it worthwhile like this one: "My granddaughter aged 11 has suffered from eczema since birth. Many chemicals later she is now clear of the embarrassing lesions on her fingers and body, thanks to your products. Two weeks after changing to your washing powder there was a huge improvement in her skin and now 6 weeks later she has been healed. Well done!!!!! "Brilliant products. Judy | Email

What does ‘living naturally’ mean to you?

Since WW2 there has been an unprecedented rise in the number of chemicals that are developed and brought to market. This means that there are now more than 84,000 chemicals in commercial use today with hundreds more developed every year. While many of these chemicals are completely safe, many of them are not, yet they are being used in every day household products from cleaning products to body care and even baby care products. Residues of these chemicals are in our clothing, our sheets, on our skin and in the air we breathe.

We can’t rely on regulations to protect us from chemicals that might cause us harm which means we have to be vigilant, read product labels, find out which chemicals to avoid and short of that – find companies that you can trust who have done the work for you. While it’s actually impossible to remove all toxins from our lives, it is possible to reduce our exposure to them by eating healthy food, drinking clean water and finding products that you can trust.

What does a typical day in the wellness world look like for you?

I get asked to do a lot of public speaking which is something I actually enjoy. By sharing my story I hope to inspire others to make changes in their lives.
One of the recent talks I’ve given was at the Auckland based TEDx (view here)

What are your top 3 tips for staying fit and healthy?

Stress – we all know this is a killer, but if yoga and meditation are not your thing then find something that helps you. Spending time in the garden is my way of de-stressing.
Diet – aim to eat organic food as much as you can and to eat healthily at least 80% of the time - that way your body can cope with the odd over-indulgence.
Environment – detox your home of nasty chemicals in your cleaning products and personal care products.

In a nutshell, what’s your food philosophy?

Fresh and simple is best, and organic wherever possible. I don’t eat a lot of processed foods. My favourite meals are made up of vegetables either prepared raw or lightly cooked with a steak or piece of fish on the side.

What do you do to ‘reset’ the balance button when life gets a bit hectic?

I spend a few days at the eco village every week, which gives me a chance to spend time in the garden. This not only helps keep me grounded – it saves me spending time at the gym!

We’re all about balance around here…What’s your biggest indulgence?

A glass (or two) of wine at the end of the day.

What healthy snacks might we find on your desk or in your handbag?

That’s easy - Tamari Almonds!

Can you share with us your top two pieces of advice for people wanting to start a career in the wellness industry?

Prevention is better than cure…Follow your passion, choose the area that you would probably do even if it wasn’t your job

Do you have a favourite affirmation or quote you remind yourself of when life throws you a few challenges?

Yes, I remind myself that I am doing this work not just for now but for my grandchildren and their children so my favourite quote is ‘imagine the future and do it now’.

What are your goals and aspirations for the coming year?

For ecostore products to become mainstream.

Fairground breakthrough working in partnership with a local electricity supplier to become the first carbon neutral commercial building

To inspire more business’s over to the ethical and green side

Thank you Malcolm, I love the ecostore brand story and philosophy, and of course the gorgeous products!  x