The Truth About Green Cleaning Products

Hey,

In the latest episode of Beyond The Buy Box, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Kay, co-founder of Green Llama, to uncover the truth behind green cleaning products. We talked about sustainability, entrepreneurship, and what it’s like to build a company with your spouse—trust me, this is one conversation you don’t want to miss.

Here’s what we talked about:

1. Are Green Cleaning Products Really Effective?

A common myth is that eco-friendly cleaning products just don’t work as well as traditional cleaners. Kay and I busted this myth wide open.

She shared that many regular cleaning products don’t necessarily clean better—they often contain brighteners or harmful chemicals that give the illusion of cleanliness. For example, laundry detergents might make your clothes “look” cleaner by reflecting light, even though they’re still dirty. Green Llama has taken a different approach by focusing on formulas that clean without toxic chemicals while also cutting down on plastic waste. Their products come in compostable packaging, making them just as effective, if not more so, than their traditional counterparts.

2. The Journey of an Entrepreneur

It was a personal mission for Kay to reduce waste in her home. She started using plastic-free alternatives for laundry and toothpaste and quickly realized the same needed to be done for household cleaners. When she asked her husband Matt (a neuroscientist!) to create a tablet for her all-purpose cleaner, the seed for Green Llama was planted.

Starting during the early days of the pandemic, they converted their garage into a lab, mixing formulas by hand and eventually turning their small project into a growing business. Kay candidly shared the highs and lows of entrepreneurship—from the joy of seeing their product succeed at farmer's markets to the challenges of financial setbacks. Through it all, the lesson is clear: perseverance and the right mentors can make all the difference.

3. The Challenges of Working with Your Spouse

Running a business is hard—doing it with your spouse adds another layer of complexity. Kay and Matt, however, have made it work, despite the inevitable challenges. Kay mentioned that the hardest part wasn’t balancing their personal and professional relationship, but rather the constant decision-making that comes with wearing multiple hats.

As the company has grown, so has their team, allowing them to delegate responsibilities and bring in fresh perspectives. Adding more team members, according to Kay, has been one of the best decisions they’ve made to ensure smoother decision-making.

4. Customer Loyalty and Green Llama’s Success

Another insight from the podcast was how surprised Kay was by the number of customers searching for sustainable products. Even more surprising was how many of them were willing to try out new brands like Green Llama instead of sticking with legacy brands.

Their repeat customer rate has been impressive, with many buyers coming back to purchase refills and try out other products in their lineup. Kay attributes this to their focus on both effectiveness and sustainability—customers love that they can reduce their environmental impact without sacrificing performance.

What’s Next for Green Llama?

Kay gave us a sneak peek into what’s coming up for Green Llama. While they’re laser-focused on growing their current product line, they have plans to expand into new areas, including scented laundry products, hygiene items, and even a safer disinfectant that doesn’t burn your nostrils!

Xena’s Spotlight: How We Helped Green Llama Succeed

It’s been an honor to support Green Llama on their journey, particularly in helping them crack the code on Amazon success. Our role included:

• Optimized Amazon listings to ensure Green Llama products ranked higher in search results.

• Targeted ad campaigns that helped them reach eco-conscious shoppers.

• Improved branding and photography, so customers could see the value of their compostable, non-toxic cleaners at a glance.

Green Llama’s visibility on Amazon has grown significantly, driving both sales and customer loyalty. We’re excited to see where their journey takes them next—and we’ll be with them every step of the way!

Watch the full podcast here

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Written by Akhil Suresh Nair, the founder & CEO of Xena Intelligence - the AI tech for eCommerce brands.