In this joyful episode of PR LIKE A BOSS!, I get the inside scoop from beauty powerhouse Abi Cleeve, the woman behind Ultrasun UK, SkinSense and now SBC Skincare. Abi’s story is anything but ordinary: it all started with a badly sunburned holiday in Switzerland, a charming pharmacist and a life-changing bottle of sunscreen.
From cold-calling pharmacies with a Yellow Pages and swapping corporate life at M&S for tiny Swiss coffee meetings, Abi built her brands through old-school hustle, fierce product love and a ton of heart. She faced early hurdles like awful packaging ("we looked like Ronseal for your fence," she laughed) and a beauty industry that didn’t yet care about SPF. Still, perseverance and a lot of ringing up pharmacies from Abergavenny to Penzance paid off.
Abi also shared her best PR wisdom:
Transparency always wins: your brand’s reputation is only as strong as your honesty.
Listening to customers is golden: not just hearing what you want to hear!
Innovation should solve real problems, not chase trends.
Influencers? Great, but "they shine a light" it’s still the product that needs to do the real talking.
Beyond beauty, Abi’s passion for giving back shines just as brightly. From supporting people with albinism in Uganda to mentoring young beauty entrepreneurs through her programme ArcLight, Abi proves that being a boss is about lifting others as you climb.
Oh — and her golden business tip?
"Stay absolutely true to yourself — that’s your real superpower." ✨
Brands & Organisations Mentioned:
Advantage Africa (Charity partner for Ultrasun’s skin clinics in Uganda)
BASF (creators of the EcoSun Pass)
CEW - Cosmetic Executive Women (not-for-profit organisation with a mission to promote the contributions of women in the cosmetics industry)
Catch Abi and her brands on:
Instagram: @abicleeve @ultrasunuk @skinsenseuk @sbcskincareuk
LinkedIn: @abi-cleeve
Patz x
!!!!GIVEAWAY ALERT!!! My friends at Ultrasun UK are providing the chance for one of my UK-based listeners to win a selection of goodies worth £130! Follow me (@pgaleota and/or @prlikeaboss) on Instagram and share today’s episode Reel tagging me in for a chance to enter. ONE winner will be selected at random. Deadline: 10pm GMT Monday 5th May 2025.
Are you ready to invest in yourself and your business and take your PR to the next level? I can teach you everything you need to know to become YOUR OWN PR EXPERT! Please check-out the PR LIKE A BOSS! eCourse HERE
PR SPECIALIST & COACH
PATRIZIA GALEOTA
With over two decades of experience, I’ve established myself as a PR Powerhouse, collaborating with renowned brands and experts within L’Oréal Paris, Kiehl’s, Garnier, and The Body Shop, among others.
My expertise lies in shaping compelling narratives, providing strategic guidance and fostering impactful collaborations on both a national and global scale.
I empower brands and experts in the beauty, wellness and lifestyle space to secure media coverage and communicate their products and expertise effectively.
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