Beysis co-founder Ariana Hendry had no idea that the “Oprah” insulated water bottles ordered from their Surry Hills-based customised gift store were for the famous media personality until they saw a video of Oprah Winfrey raving about their bottles. And that was the start of something good…nay, great(!) for their business.
Ariana and her business partners, Anthea Hendry and Jessica Bryce, thought someone who was a die-hard fan of Oprah ordered the customised bottle until they realised who it really was.
Oprah gave away personalised Beysis water bottles for the guests of director Ava DuVernay’s 50th birthday bash in Maui. The popular TV personality was hosting the party for her.
In the video, Oprah could be heard raving about Beysis: “Here’s what I love so much…. I was looking for the perfect water bottle. I love the smoothness of this one when you pull it out of your bag, and the most important [thing] is having everyone’s name on their water bottle.”
She then shared the product on Oprah Daily and her Instagram reel, which has over 21.4 million followers. Beysis was tagged on the post, thus quickly gaining a boom in its sales by 1,200 per cent and heaps of traffic to their website by nearly 5,000 per cent.
“We have been working tirelessly to design a collection of beautiful sustainable products. The last three years have not been without their challenges, but when you receive such positive feedback from one of the world’s most influential people, it creates a fire to keep persevering,” Ariana said.
Oprah’s endorsement came at the right time as Beysis was also launching in the U.S. Ariana said that Oprah’s endorsement was such a welcome opportunity for a young business that usually cannot afford a celebrity to recommend their products.
The company opened in Surry Hills in late 2019, or just a few months before the pandemic hit. Aside from the challenges of opening a new business, the company had to overcome an economy pulled down by the global crisis.
Meanwhile, Beysis also sells sustainable customised iPhone and AirPods cases, makeup cases, candles and vases. A percentage of the company’s profits is coursed through Project Change International, an Australian social enterprise that supports causes for women.
The company is due to launch six new products for the next quarter, which are focused on reusables. For now, the Beysis team is busy filling out orders as a result of the Oprah endorsement.
Follow Beysis on Instagram for updates on new products.
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