Breaking Into Traditional Markets: Parla's Playbook for Product Innovation & Disruption

Can you really take on billion-dollar brands like Colgate and Oral-B with a sustainable startup? In this episode of The Millennial Entrepreneur, Sina sits down with Hayley Costanzo, co-founder of Parla, a UK-based oral care brand on a mission to eliminate single-use plastic and harsh chemicals from your daily routine.Featured on Dragon’s Den, Parla is shaking up one of the most traditional FMCG markets—replacing palm oil, SLS, and wasteful packaging with stylish, dentist-formulated, planet-friendly products. In this candid conversation, Hayley shares how they went from startup idea to securing shelf space in Boots, Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, and Ocado within the same year, all while building a loyal community through organic content, education, and word-of-mouth.🔹 Who is this video for?✅ Founders building sustainable or ethical consumer brands✅ FMCG entrepreneurs navigating retail, DTC, and omnichannel growth✅ Marketers and creatives looking for real-world brand-building case studiesWhat you’ll learn:📌 How Parla is disrupting the oral care market with sustainability at its core📌 What it’s like pitching—and scaling—after Dragon’s Den📌 Why founder-led content is more powerful than paid ads📌 Tips for winning retail shelf space while maintaining strong DTC channels📌 How to educate consumers and shift generational buying habits📌 Why B Corp certification and community feedback are game changers📌 The long-term vision for Parla’s growth and product innovation👉 Watch to the end to learn how Hayley and her team are making sustainable oral care the new normal—without compromising on clinical standards, design, or scale.00:00 Toothpaste Market Monopoly Insights04:10 Challenging Toothpaste Buying Habits09:27 "Plastic-Free Oral Care Challenge"13:06 Direct-to-Consumer Sustainability Model17:20 Changing Consumer Habits18:05 Innovations in Dental Awareness Challenge22:22 "Dragon's Den Boosts Business"24:51 Dragons Den Boosts FMCG Success28:50 UK's Awareness on Plastic Pollution31:43 "Millennial Entrepreneur: Inspiring Stories"#SustainableBusiness #StartupGrowth #DragonsDen #FMCGStartup #DirectToConsumer #MissionLedBrands #TheMillennialEntrepreneur📸 Instagram: @TheMillennialEntrepreneurPod💼 My Business (Wing): https://www.wingcard.io/🎧 Podcast Equipment I Use: https://amzn.to/31Os4fV, https://amzn.to/3kul2Fm🌐 Discover Parla: https://www.parlatoothpastetabs.com/