So Topical x Freckl: How Food Stars Winner Sophie Hood Chose Freckl as Her 3PL in Australia
- Freckl 3PL
- 4 hours ago
- 5 min read
Sophie Hood is one of Australia’s most impressive consumer founders.
After building Seoul Tonic from a Bondi garage while working full-time, winning Gordon Ramsay’s Food Stars Australia and growing the brand into major retail, Sophie is now building her second venture: So Topical, an innovative beauty brand built around patented microcurrent technology.
When launching So Topical, Sophie chose Freckl as her 3PL partner in Australia.
And recently, she shared why.
Watch Sophie Talk About Freckl
Sophie recently posted a video sharing her experience launching So Topical and working with Freckl.
In the video, she describes Freckl as the “absolute best 3PL in Sydney” and says we’ve been “absolutely fabulous.”
For our team, hearing this from a founder we already admire so much means a lot.
But more importantly, we think Sophie’s approach to operations is a great example of how growing consumer brands can think about fulfilment.
From Seoul Tonic to So Topical
Sophie knows what it takes to build a consumer brand.
She started Seoul Tonic from a Bondi garage while working full-time, taking on everything from sales and marketing to fulfilment and logistics herself.
She went on to win Gordon Ramsay’s Food Stars Australia, secure major retail opportunities and personally deliver stock to 40 Woolworths Metro stores when logistics issues threatened a launch. That hands-on experience gave Sophie a very clear understanding of the realities of running a fast-growing consumer business. So when she launched So Topical, she knew how important it was to have the right operational partner behind the brand.
Why Sophie Chose Freckl
So Topical is a beauty brand with big ambitions, and fulfilment is an important part of creating a great customer experience.
Sophie chose Freckl to manage the operational side of the business, allowing her team to focus on what they do best: building the brand, developing the product and growing the business.
At Freckl, we provide end-to-end 3PL and ecommerce fulfilment for beauty, skincare, fashion and consumer brands across Australia.
That includes:
Warehousing and inventory management
Shopify and ecommerce fulfilment
Pick and pack
Returns management
Branded packaging
Samples, inserts and promotional items
Kitting and bundling
Domestic and international shipping
For us, being a 3PL isn't simply about storing products and sending parcels.
It's about becoming an extension of the brand's operations.
Why Beauty Fulfilment Is Different
Beauty and skincare brands have unique fulfilment requirements.
The customer experience doesn't end when someone clicks “purchase”. The way a product is packed, presented and delivered is part of the brand experience.
Beauty brands may also need to manage:
Samples and promotional items Beauty brands often use samples, gifts, inserts and campaigns as part of their customer acquisition and retention strategy.
Kitting and bundles Product bundles and promotional sets need to be assembled accurately and efficiently.
Branded presentation Packaging and presentation matter — particularly for premium beauty brands.
Returns A smooth returns process is an important part of the overall customer experience.
ScalabilityY our fulfilment partner needs to be able to grow with the brand as order volumes increase and new sales channels are added.
This is why choosing a beauty 3PL in Australia is about more than finding warehouse space.
It's about finding a partner that understands the category and the pace at which consumer brands grow.
Building the Brand While Freckl Handles the Fulfilment
One of the biggest benefits of working with a 3PL is giving founders their time back.
Instead of spending hours receiving stock, managing inventory, packing orders and organising shipping, founders can focus on the areas where they create the most value:
Building the brand.
Developing products.
Growing retail relationships.
Marketing.
Talking to customers.
Growing the business.
That's particularly important for founder-led brands like So Topical.
Sophie has already experienced what it takes to build a consumer business from the ground up. With So Topical, she has the opportunity to focus that energy on the next stage of growth while Freckl takes care of the day-to-day fulfilment operation.
Why We're So Proud to Work With So Topical
We've followed Sophie's journey for years, so having her choose Freckl for her second business is incredibly special.
She has built a successful consumer brand, navigated retail expansion and experienced the operational challenges that come with growth.
So when she chose Freckl as the 3PL behind So Topical, we knew the trust meant something.
And hearing her publicly describe Freckl as the “absolute best 3PL in Sydney” is a huge compliment to our entire team.
Our goal at Freckl has always been to build a 3PL that founders genuinely love working with.
Not just a warehouse.
Not just a fulfilment provider.
A true operational partner behind the brand.
We're incredibly excited to be part of So Topical's next chapter and can't wait to see where Sophie takes it.
Looking for a Beauty 3PL in Australia?
If you're building a beauty, skincare, fashion or ecommerce brand and looking for a 3PL partner in Australia, we'd love to hear from you.
Freckl provides warehousing, inventory management, pick and pack, returns and ecommerce fulfilment for growing brands across Australia and internationally.
About So Topical
So Topical is a beauty brand founded by Sophie Hood, the founder of Seoul Tonic and winner of Gordon Ramsay's Food Stars Australia. The brand's hero product uses patented microcurrent technology designed to deliver an at-home beauty treatment experience.
About Freckl
Freckl is a Sydney-based 3PL specialising in ecommerce fulfilment for beauty, skincare, fashion and consumer brands.
From warehousing and inventory management through to pick and pack, returns and shipping, Freckl helps growing brands scale their operations without building their own warehouse and fulfilment team.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Sophie Hood?
Sophie Hood is an Australian entrepreneur and the founder of Seoul Tonic and So Topical. She won Gordon Ramsay’s Food Stars Australia with Seoul Tonic before launching her second consumer brand, So Topical.
What is So Topical?
So Topical is an Australian beauty brand founded by Sophie Hood. The brand focuses on innovative skincare technology, including its patented microcurrent mask.
Who is So Topical’s 3PL?
So Topical chose Freckl as its 3PL and ecommerce fulfilment partner in Australia. Freckl manages the brand’s warehousing, inventory and order fulfilment.
What is a beauty 3PL?
A beauty 3PL (third-party logistics provider) manages the operational side of ecommerce for beauty and skincare brands. Services can include warehousing, inventory management, pick and pack, shipping, returns, kitting and branded packaging.
What does Freckl do for beauty brands?
Freckl provides 3PL and ecommerce fulfilment for beauty, skincare, fashion and consumer brands in Australia. Services include warehousing, inventory management, pick and pack, returns, Shopify fulfilment, kitting, branded packaging and domestic and international shipping.
Why should a beauty brand use a 3PL?
Using a 3PL allows beauty brands to outsource warehousing and fulfilment instead of managing stock and packing orders themselves. This can give founders more time to focus on product development, marketing, retail expansion and growing the brand.
What should I look for when choosing a beauty 3PL in Australia?
Beauty brands should look for a 3PL with experience in beauty and ecommerce, accurate inventory management, reliable fulfilment, flexible warehousing, ecommerce integrations, strong returns processes and the ability to scale as order volumes grow.
Comments