How Purely Natural by Anastasia Turned a 10-Minute Pitch into a Debenhams Deal

Anastasia

After joining us at our Haircare Huddle in September 2025, Purely Natural by Anastasia has achieved a major retail breakthrough — securing a listing with Debenhams, where the brand will soon be featured on the retailer’s Brands A–Z section.

The event opened doors to invaluable connections and meaningful conversations with buyers — leading to a confirmed partnership and ongoing discussions with other major retailers.

Success Story Highlights

  • Brand: Purely Natural by Anastasia
  • Event attended: Haircare Huddle Birmingham
  • Retailer that confirmed a listing:  Debenhams
  • Retailers in ongoing discussions: Sol Retail, Boots
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A powerful boost from the Huddle

At the event, founder Anastasia Chikezie presented her range of natural and effective haircare products, passionately designed to celebrate and care for textured hair. Her expertise and authenticity resonated immediately with buyers — and within just four weeks, Debenhams reached out to confirm their interest.

“We actually received an email from Debenhams expressing interest just an hour after the pitch,” says Anastasia.

Since then, Purely Natural by Anastasia has been working closely with the Debenhams team to onboard their products and launch their brand page, marking an exciting step forward in their retail journey.

The Huddle Effect

“Product Guru has been instrumental in facilitating valuable connections for our brand, ultimately leading to a partnership with Debenhams, and continued talks with Sol Retail and Boots… watch this space!
This platform has provided us with the visibility and credibility needed to excel in a competitive market. Our recent success is a testament to the power of collaboration and innovation, and we're excited to see what the future holds.”

At Product Guru, we’re proud to see Purely Natural by Anastasia turn a 10-minute conversation into a long-term retail partnership.

Our Huddles create space for:

  • Focused meetings with top retail buyers

  • Immediate, actionable feedback

  • A direct path to real retail wins

    Want to be our next success story? Explore our upcoming Huddles and book your place.

Anastasia’s Top Tips for Pitching to Buyers

With over 30 years of experience in the haircare industry, Anastasia knows exactly how to make every minute with a buyer count. Here are her practical insights for turning a short meeting into a meaningful opportunity:

Structuring a powerful 10-minute conversation

  1. Begin with a concise introduction of your brand, its values, and what sets it apart.

  2. Clearly communicate your product range, highlighting bestsellers.

  3. Share notable achievements — awards, testimonials, or sales data — to show your brand’s momentum.

  4. Demonstrate how you’ll support the retailer through marketing, in-store displays, or joint initiatives.

  5. End by thanking them for their time and setting clear next steps.

From first meeting to store shelves

Timelines vary depending on the retailer, but it can take anywhere from one to six months to finalise a deal. In Anastasia’s case, Debenhams got in touch just one hour after her pitch, and within four weeks, the partnership was confirmed.

Advice for following up

  • Send a thank-you email within 24–48 hours, summarising key points and expressing enthusiasm.

  • Provide any additional materials promptly.

  • Set a clear follow-up timeline and stick to it, maintaining a polite but persistent approach.

  • Keep nurturing the relationship by sharing relevant updates such as new launches or milestones.

“Above all,” says Anastasia, “be authentic, be passionate, be professional. People do business with people.”

More about Purely Natural by Anastasia

Founded by Anastasia Chikezie, Purely Natural by Anastasia was born from over three decades of passion, education, and advocacy for natural hair.

A leading voice in the textured hair industry, Anastasia has spent more than 20 years mentoring professionals around the world, working as an educator and brand ambassador for major global haircare brands, and inspiring audiences as a keynote speaker at international events.

Recognised as one of the UK’s foremost experts in natural black haircare, Anastasia continues to empower people to embrace their texture with confidence. Her products reflect the same philosophy she’s championed throughout her career — that natural hair deserves exceptional care, innovation, and respect.

Learn more here!
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