Ep 234: Building A Successful Brand In The Dark - Diane Nettleton - (Founder - GAIA Skincare)

Diane is a member of the family owning three hotels and two spas in the South West and is the
founder of GAIA Skincare. Diane lives by the beach in Cornwall but also enjoys some city life.

Working in hospitality for over 30 years Diane sees spa as an extension of caring and nurturing each
guest. The company first built and opened Fistral Spa Newquay in 2007 and after the family
purchased Boringdon Hall in 2011, work began to build Gaia Spa which was the largest spa opening in
2016. Diane was involved in setting up the operational side of the spa including designing treatments
and protocols.

Gaia Spa is a multi-award-winning destination spa, widely reputable in the UK. Gaia Spa was named
Hotel Spa of the Year in Western Europe & Scandinavia at the World Spa & Wellness Awards 2019,
Condé Nast Johansen's Best Destination Spa in the UK & Ireland 2018, 2020 & 2022.

It was always the vision from Gaia Spa to have its own identity. Diane set about creating the GAIA
Skincare range, which was a labour of love coming from her own desire to live well, naturally and
passion for wellbeing, following the death of her husband. Exploring different avenues of holistic
wellbeing supported the development of GAIA Skincare.

Diane has been involved in all aspects of creating an authentic brand from choosing ingredients,
packaging, label design, fulfilment of orders, overseeing the legislation of the brand such as the
trademark, and claiming accreditations such as The Vegan Society and Leaping Bunny.

Following its launch at the flagship Gaia Spa, GAIA skincare has since continued to grow its skincare
range and treatments, win awards and now partners with 40 other spas in the UK and Ireland and is
continuing to expand.

Diane love to share the story of the brand development and believes her story offers hope to others of
achieving good things while caring for others even when you are facing adversity yourself. Diane is
passionate about wellness and believes in living and being the industry that she represents. She is
also a key supporter of Global Wellness Day organising events annually to celebrate this day.