66: PuraU Founder Acacia Clarke bet $500K a major retail pharmacy deal. They ghosted her. Then the internet stepped in.

Guest: Acacia Clarke, Co-Founder of PureYou  

Host: Liz Nable  

Acacia Clarke shares her raw journey from registered nurse battling decade-long acne to co-founding PureYou, a multi-million-dollar brand that's helped 50,000+ people via gut-skin supplements—without patented secrets, just smart formulations targeting root causes like hormones, inflammation, and detox.  

After a pharmacy chain ghosted them post-$500K stock investment, Acacia turned setback into viral gold: community rallied via social videos, tagging retailers and scoring Terry White spots, plus mentorship from Thankyou's Daniel Flynn.  

This episode unpacks e-com realities, PR power (Channel 7 traffic surges), and why authentic social sharing beats silence—proving underdogs win by leaning in publicly.  

Key Topics:

• PureYou Origins: Nurse duo fixes own acne via naturopath gut insights; evolves gross tonics to TGA-listed capsules/powders (probiotics, fibers, collagens).  

• Launch Struggles: COVID e-com slow-burn; manual PR pitches land news.com.au/Daily Mail wins amid doom headlines.  

• PR Breakthroughs: Channel 7 segment crashes site (5K visitors); logos build endless credibility in trust-heavy supplements.  

• Retail Heartbreak: Half-mil stock prepped for major chain's March launch—ghosted in Feb after forms/warehouse moves.  

• Community Pivot: Viral reels tag pharmacies; Terry White Noosa concept store + manager outreach; Daniel Flynn intros/weekly calls.  

Opportunities for Founders:

• Retail Hustle: No contracts pre-DC stock? Demand better; use social to rally buyers/community proof.  

• PR Leverage: Early wins (news/TV) fuel growth; experts endorse what ads can't.  

• Social as News: Share messes publicly—attracts support, mentors, opps (e.g., Terry White ripple).  

Timestamps (Approximate):

• 00:00 Hook: Don't wait for media—use social to create buzz.  

• 03:00 Intro: Liz's journo-to-coach story.  

• 05:00 PureYou: Acne-to-empire via gut-skin link.  

• 09:00 Formulations: Naturopath-backed, TGA-listed programs (30-90 days + maintenance).  

• 15:00 Early PR: Manual pitches score COVID success stories.  

• 22:00 Channel 7 Chaos: Site crash, 5K visitors, expert cred.  

• 28:00 Retail Saga: $500K stock ghosted; no pre-DC contracts.  

• 35:00 Viral Turnaround: Reels tag chains; Daniel Flynn mentors.  

• 42:00 Terry White Win: Noosa store + grassroots demand.  

• 48:00 Founder Advice: Reps build confidence; focus light at tunnel's end.  

Quotes:

"Confidence comes from doing it... What’s the worst that could happen? Your brain makes the risk seem bigger than it is." – Acacia on public vulnerability    

"You can advertise forever, but money can't buy a credible expert saying it works." – On PR in supplements    

"Half a million in stock sitting there was a constant reminder—but we chose to find the light." – Retail resilience    

Listen on Apple Podcasts: [https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/media-magnet/id1612225266]