Back 2 Nature began in a home kitchen with a simple idea: create products that are better for people and better for the planet. Founded by Chanel Dankert in 2016, the business started as a passion project, with every product handmade by Chanel herself. Over the past decade, this woman-led business has grown into a nationally recognised natural wellness brand, with products stocked in more than 200 stores across South Africa and a growing online customer base.
Chanel’s background in environmental management and conservation inspired her to create a range that helps consumers make more conscious choices. After learning about the environmental impact of many conventional household and skincare products, she set out to create an alternative rooted in sustainability, transparency and quality.
Today, Back 2 Nature offers natural skincare, haircare, suncare and guest amenity products that are vegan, cruelty-free and manufactured in Cape Town. The brand’s mission is simple: encourage conscious consumerism through products that are good for people and kinder to the environment. This focus on purpose has helped Back 2 Nature build a loyal community of customers who share the same values.
Growing through ecommerce
As the business grew, selling online became an important way to reach customers directly. Beyond improving profit margins, ecommerce gave the team valuable insight into who their customers are, where they live and how they shop. These insights have helped Back 2 Nature make more informed marketing decisions, better understand customer demand and identify new opportunities.
For a growing independent brand, having direct access to customer data has been invaluable. Ecommerce has allowed the business to build stronger customer relationships while creating a more sustainable path to scale. Rather than relying solely on retail channels, Back 2 Nature has been able to engage directly with customers across South Africa and beyond.
At the same time, the company needed a payment solution that customers could trust. Reliability, security and ease of integration were key priorities, which led the business to choose Payfast by Network as its payment partner. With a seamless Shopify integration and multiple payment methods available, Payfast helps create a smooth checkout experience for customers while supporting the brand’s ecommerce ambitions.
Watch their story below.
Creating a seamless customer experience
For Back 2 Nature, a positive payment experience is an important part of the customer journey. Customers expect a checkout process that is fast, secure and convenient, and Payfast helps deliver exactly that.
The simple Shopify integration made implementation straightforward, while the variety of payment options available allows customers to pay using the method that suits them best. This flexibility helps remove friction at checkout and supports a smoother purchasing experience from start to finish.
Supporting customers beyond South Africa
As demand for Back 2 Nature products expanded beyond local borders, the business needed a straightforward way to accept payments from international customers. Managing cross-border transactions efficiently became increasingly important as the brand’s reach continued to grow.
One feature that has proven especially valuable is Payfast’s payment request functionality. Rather than navigating complex payment processes, the team can send customers a secure payment request link that allows them to complete their purchase quickly and easily with a card. This makes the process more convenient for both the business and its customers.
Building on strong foundations
After ten years in business, Back 2 Nature continues to invest in its future. One of its current focus areas is expanding its guest amenities range to support the ecotourism industry across Southern Africa, with ecommerce playing an important role in that journey.
For Chanel, one of the most rewarding aspects of building a woman-led business has been hearing directly from customers and seeing the positive impact the products have on their lives. Her journey reflects the resilience, adaptability and commitment that so many female entrepreneurs bring to South Africa’s business landscape.
Back 2 Nature’s journey shows what’s possible when great products are paired with a seamless online buying experience. Whether you’re launching a new online store or looking to optimise an existing one, Payfast gives you the tools to accept payments easily and focus on running your business. Get in touch with our sales team to discover how Payfast can support your next chapter.