Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Vivo Natural Products

What a great idea started by a talented young man who is a visionary and innovator. "His environmental and philanthropic soaps are cleaning up this planet, one shower at a time." By using shea butter, one of the most natural properties that's especially good for skincare, Michael Talve has created an product that will help keep the people of the world naturally clean, in an affordable way. To be sure there are other shea butter products, and even bars of shea soap. But what makes this story even more remarkable is that Michael went to Toga, West Africa, where a collective of women produce their own shea butter. He wanted it to be pure and unprocessed, and he also wanted the women in the collective to be his partners. Wow! An entrepreneur with a social conscious. As an advertising man who spent several years in the early 90s reintroducing Dove Beauty Bar to Europe; and introducing it to Central Europe after the iron curtain had dropped, I've watched women around the world fall in love with the softness of Dove on the one hand, and 'cried' on the other hand as it dissolved away quickly forcing them to purchase even more bars. VIVO, on the other hand, lasts 'forever.' I've sworn by Dove and don't use anything else. I even pack it when traveling so I don't miss it while on the road. My daughter, who is now twenty-two, has never experienced anything but Dove. That's because Dove delivers on its promise and keeps skin soft and prevents it from drying. Which is why Dove has found a place in my heart. I have been a disciple for it ever since. But now I am smitten with an idea and product that is potentially even more promising and I can't wait to try it. It's exciting to think I'm on the verge of starting a new love affair with a bar of soap. It would be just as exciting to work with Michael and help him differentiate his brand from the other shea products that are in the marketplace. That will help him deliver the promise of VIVO Natural Products to the rest of the world in a way that they too will fall in love with the VIVO brand and own it with him. After all, that's how brands are born. It's a love affair, really.