for wellbeing with as many people as possible.
We interviewed Rebecca and asked her about everything from Sol Cups’ beginnings to the impact COVID-19 has on her brand and where she wants to go from here. Keep reading for more on Rebecca.
How Rebecca Veksler Created Her Sustainable Sol Cups Empire
1) What is Sol Cups?
Sol Cups are 100% Hand Blown glass, reusable cups, water bottles, and accessories. We produce the highest quality glassware possible. They are all extremely lightweight, stylish, and come in a number of chic and sexy signature colors so that you feel proud to be a “Solmate” and eco-warrior!
Sol Chooses hand-blown glass. It has a sleek and sexy design, It is lightweight and best of all is made from naturally abundant materials (namely sand) and is far less permeable than plastics. Meaning our hand blown glass won’t absorb residual tastes, odours or germs, and won’t leach chemicals (known to be endocrine disruptors in the body) into your beverage. As a result, SoL Cups offer purity of taste. Your drink is fresher and cleaner, and you’ll have zero concerns for your health. Sol is strong, lightweight and 100% plastic-free, as well as being microwave and dishwasher safe.
2) How do Sol Cups help the world strive for change and how does it help with changing the environment?
One of our main and core missions is to be a platform for education, to inspire our community to make better consumer choices. To educate themselves to cause a chain reaction of sustainable consumer demand. Sol’s mission is to stop plastic production. the fact is, it’s all well and good for us and consumers to use reusable items, but they still have a life span. we need to consider the end life, where will it end up?
Why create a product made from plastic, when that is the entire issue! If we as an industry, as a global movement can stop producing un-recyclable plastic, then maybe we can start prioritizing and innovating in what to do with all of the landfills we have, instead of adding to it. We don’t need any more short term solutions. it’s Sol cups’ goal to be part of the solution and not the problem. Did you know there are 26 (on average) plastic takeaway cups, inside a plastic reusable cup?
That seems insane to me, it is literally fast-tracking the problem by creating more plastic than ever before. That is why we do not use or produce plastic and we only use hand-blown glass and silicon on our cups. We will continue to innovate and attempt to use new and environmentally friendly products.
3) How has COVID-19 changed your company?
It has been a pretty incredible journey, we essentially lost a huge majority of our business. So many of our incredible clients around the world needed to shut their doors. As much of a hit that it was, we will continue to support our stockists and continue to re-focus on innovating internally and developing as a global company. In retrospect, it has changed us for the best. We really know what to focus on now.
4) What has COVID-19 changed in your workplace environment?
Although the team isn’t working from office space at this moment, we haven’t lost momentum or connection, we still hold weekly WIFLE sessions (What I Feel Like Expressing). Catch up as much as we can, keeping social distancing rules and speak 24/7 via all the technologies. I have an incredible team of women working in the SoL Business. There is nothing that can stop us from keeping motivated and positive!
5) How are you revamping your business model to fit with the current time?
We have definitely been focusing on social community building, really shifting the way we communicate and deliver content. A huge focus is on emphasizing our mission to be a platform of education by collaborating with as many like-minded people as possible to bring our “Solmate” community as much quality and educational content as possible! It has been so much fun, so rewarding and we will continue to grow on this path, even when COVID is over.
6) What advice do you have to business owners about adjusting to life during COVID-19?
Most business owners know that running your own business is basically a game of Russian Roulette, you never know what can happen at any moment, which is why it’s so important to have a solution based mindset and to learn to turn stress into the positive challenge, or growth. It is very important to be able to adapt and innovate in each moment. You need to find the balance between, planning and being able to improvise as required. So my advice is to really focus on your own mental health, your own personal development, and if you are being forced to have some quiet time in your business, use it to fix all the problems you never have time for.
Fix the system processes, logistics, marketing plans, business plans. Fix it all! Take a big focus on business development and personal development. This ensures you and your business are COVID-19 proof, as they say. Sometimes these little pauses are blessings to major developments and even bigger success. That’s what we have been doing at SoL.
7) What do you hope the pandemic changes for the better?
Two things: The phenomenon of “Me Too” companies will start to thin out. This has really proven that in Australia particularly we are very fortunate and have such easy access to becoming an entrepreneur. COVID has definitely separated the real business owners from the opportunists. I think a lot more quality and a lot more unique sustainable products will come out of COVID. This is opposed to an overwhelming amount of copycat brands that have developed across so many industries in the last 5 years. Let’s face it, the world needs quality not quantity right now.
And secondly, the way consumers have really stepped up to support the local business and local community. It is honestly the most beautiful thing to witness. I hope this has really opened the eyes to so many people out there! Also, keep supporting your favorites! That is the reason we succeed, and that is so much of the purpose behind business owners. It is so rewarding to see your hard work be loved and backed by those in your direct community. So powerful.
