I took on the brutal ‘trendy drink bottle’ market with a genius idea I knew would fill a gap – and now I can’t keep them on the shelves
A progressive mum has created a ‘revolutionary’ water bottle that has won her a following and made six figures in six months.
When Rebecca Nicholls, from Perth, wanted to start Pilates again in early 2022, she started looking for a new workout wardrobe, gym bag and water bottle.
Limited by her budget, she decided to find a ‘luxury’ water bottle, but couldn’t find anything that suited her style or needs, despite big players like Frank Green and Stanley saturating the market and TikTok feeds.
Often without a free hand, the 36-year-old had a moment to combine the concept of a gym bag and bottle – leading to a ‘game-changing’ wearable crossbody design.
Six months later, her Regent Rituals product was picked up by The Iconic, followed by David Jones at Christmas.
A progressive mum (pictured) has created a ‘revolutionary’ water bottle that has won her a following and made six figures in six months
The 36-year-old invested $20,000 in savings to create the perfect design and within six months the brand reached six figures
She launched in 2022 Regent rituals from the comfort of her kitchen table and designed the product with help from her engineer husband, Chris.
The $79.95 Sipswift Crossbody Water Bottle in black sold out in just two weeks and now has a waiting list of hundreds.
The ‘world first’ design combines fashion with functionality and is available in three colours: black, pink and baby pink.
‘I accidentally came up with the unique bottle design. There is nothing like it on the market and I think that’s why it’s done so well,” Rebecca told FEMAIL
“Starting a business has always been in the back of my mind as my parents are entrepreneurs, but I didn’t think it was possible with children,” Rebecca told FEMAIL.
‘I accidentally came up with the unique bottle design. There is nothing like it on the market and I think this is why it is done so well.
‘We thought it would be a great bottle for busy, career-oriented women, but realized it really is for everyone.’
“We thought it would be a great bottle for busy, career-oriented women, but we’ve realized it really is for everyone,” she said
Before launching, she also created a survey. 95 percent of respondents said it is “too difficult” to drink water during daily activities because the alternatives on the market are too large, bulky or heavy to carry.
Its hands-free design makes it easier to carry the 1 liter stainless steel bottle during the day.
“Our goal is to get women moving, happy and hydrated,” Rebecca said.
In the beginning, she started with a Google search to find an ideal supplier and contacted 20 to 30 manufacturers abroad – a process that took “months and months.”
The $79.95 Sipswift Crossbody Water Bottle in Black sold out in two weeks and now has a waiting list of hundreds of people
“We were essentially inventing a product – there was a lot of back and forth, but eventually we found a supplier who was willing to take a chance on us,” she said.
“It was a big risk for us, as it was for them, because nothing like this has ever happened before.”
It took almost a year to complete the bottle design and iron out all the ‘teething problems’. She also invested approximately $20,000 in savings to start the brand.
‘I didn’t know what I was doing at first, but I received guidance from parents. My mother has been in business for 20 years and I have learned that business is not for the faint of heart,” she added.
‘I have realized that being an entrepreneur is a problem solver. You have to persevere and have a thick skin in the game.”
“Our goal is to get women moving, happy and hydrated,” Rebecca said. In addition to the bottle, Regent Rituals also sells stylish gym bags, mats and towels.
Although Rebecca gave the impression that the process of starting a brand was seamless, she said there were some hiccups and mistakes along the way.
The brand originally launched a 500ml glass bottle and while it was popular at first, it was heavy so they changed the material to stainless steel.
Rebecca also described arranging shipping from abroad as a ‘nightmare’ and the expected pre-stock order has been postponed.
It’s also hard being a busy mother of two children under five and starting a small business, but Rebecca does most of her work when the kids are asleep.
She is also aware that there is no ‘end date’ in business and she strives to continue improving the products.
In addition to the bottle, Regent Rituals also sells stylish gym bags, mats and towels.
It’s also hard being a busy mother of two children under five and running a small business, and Rebecca does most of her work when the kids are asleep. She thanked her husband and parents for always helping her
Since the human body is made up of almost 60 percent water, it is essential to maintain health and well-being by drinking at least two liters of water every day.
Sydney GP Dr Dasha Fielder previously told FEMAIL that most adults should drink between 2.5 and three liters to maintain optimal hydration.
Dr. Fielder said drinking water will help hydrate the kidneys, improve digestion and intestinal health, rejuvenate the skin and prevent feelings of fatigue.
‘We lose a lot of water by drinking caffeinated drinks, such as tea and coffee, and at night while sleeping – so we need to replenish this during the day,’ she said.
Dr. Fielder said drinking at least two liters of water will hydrate the body and help maintain kidney health, improve or maintain healthy skin, and increase brain power.