Aussie couple’s X-rated mistake ends in a $16,000 lesson
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Launching a new business is an exciting yet challenging journey, filled with risks and rewards.
But what happens when a single misstep threatens to unravel months of hard work and investment?
For one ambitious Aussie couple, a seemingly minor oversight turned into a costly and unexpected obstacle.
A Sydney couple’s ambitious skincare venture took an unexpected turn when an oversight led to an expensive mistake just before their launch.
Salvatori Agostino and Talia Jackson had high hopes of establishing one of Australia’s top skincare brands for men.
The duo poured tens of thousands of dollars into their dream, only to discover their chosen brand name, Mr Skin, had a well-established X-rated history.
Jackson revealed that the name was selected back in 2022, and they began building their business around it.
‘We typed up the business name and found it was free in Australia,’ Agostino said.
They secured the name on social media platforms and even ordered customised number plates, but they never thought to Google it.
‘We didn’t Google the fr****** thing,’ Agostino admitted.
Unfortunately, a quick search revealed that Mr Skin is already a US-based pornographic website.
By the time they made this realisation, they had already ordered 20,000 product samples featuring the name.
The couple contacted their supplier, only to learn it would cost $15,000 to rebrand the products as Mr Skincare.
The ordeal was a ‘worst nightmare’ for Agostino and Jackson, who faced additional costs of $1,000 to change their number plates.
‘It was complicated because you obviously had to change your customer service emails and social media handles,’ Jackson explained.
Initially, they wanted to name their brand ‘Mr,’ but the trademark was already taken, with the owner demanding $30,000 for the rights.
Despite the challenges, Jackson and Agostino remain committed to their goal of offering skincare tailored for men.
Jackson, who gained industry insights from her years working at Mecca, combined her knowledge with Agostino’s personal experience with acne to create a niche line for male consumers.
They invested the $100,000 they had saved for a home deposit into the business instead.
‘That’s what we really wanted to do,’ Jackson said.
‘We just wanted to follow our little dream.’
‘And our parents were gonna kill us, saying you can’t just put all that money into a business. But we really believe in it,’ she added.
Agostino said: ‘Hopefully it works, and if it’s doing well, it can turn into something bigger than just a home.’
The pair are currently living with their parents as they strive to grow their brand, with a target of $10,000 to $15,000 in monthly revenue.
Australia’s skincare market is highly competitive, with IBIS World reporting 4,688 businesses in the cosmetics and toiletries industry generating $5.9 billion in revenue in 2024.
To stand out, Jackson and Agostino designed their brand to focus on accessibility, affordability, and simplicity.
‘We didn’t know how to create a brand or do anything, but we just stuck to our values,’ Jackson said.
Their product range includes a three-step system featuring a face and beard wash, a deep pore exfoliant, and a moisturiser.
‘We know there’s a huge gap in the market and guys deserve to have skincare that’s made for them,’ Jackson said.
Watch the full video of their story below.
Source: Instagram/mr.skincare_aus
What’s the most surprising mistake you’ve made while pursuing a dream? Share your experiences in the comments below.
But what happens when a single misstep threatens to unravel months of hard work and investment?
For one ambitious Aussie couple, a seemingly minor oversight turned into a costly and unexpected obstacle.
A Sydney couple’s ambitious skincare venture took an unexpected turn when an oversight led to an expensive mistake just before their launch.
Salvatori Agostino and Talia Jackson had high hopes of establishing one of Australia’s top skincare brands for men.
The duo poured tens of thousands of dollars into their dream, only to discover their chosen brand name, Mr Skin, had a well-established X-rated history.
Couple’s skincare dream derailed by costly branding mistake. Image source: Instagram/mr.skincare_aus
Jackson revealed that the name was selected back in 2022, and they began building their business around it.
‘We typed up the business name and found it was free in Australia,’ Agostino said.
They secured the name on social media platforms and even ordered customised number plates, but they never thought to Google it.
‘We didn’t Google the fr****** thing,’ Agostino admitted.
Unfortunately, a quick search revealed that Mr Skin is already a US-based pornographic website.
By the time they made this realisation, they had already ordered 20,000 product samples featuring the name.
The couple contacted their supplier, only to learn it would cost $15,000 to rebrand the products as Mr Skincare.
The ordeal was a ‘worst nightmare’ for Agostino and Jackson, who faced additional costs of $1,000 to change their number plates.
‘It was complicated because you obviously had to change your customer service emails and social media handles,’ Jackson explained.
Initially, they wanted to name their brand ‘Mr,’ but the trademark was already taken, with the owner demanding $30,000 for the rights.
Despite the challenges, Jackson and Agostino remain committed to their goal of offering skincare tailored for men.
Jackson, who gained industry insights from her years working at Mecca, combined her knowledge with Agostino’s personal experience with acne to create a niche line for male consumers.
They invested the $100,000 they had saved for a home deposit into the business instead.
‘That’s what we really wanted to do,’ Jackson said.
‘We just wanted to follow our little dream.’
‘And our parents were gonna kill us, saying you can’t just put all that money into a business. But we really believe in it,’ she added.
Agostino said: ‘Hopefully it works, and if it’s doing well, it can turn into something bigger than just a home.’
The pair are currently living with their parents as they strive to grow their brand, with a target of $10,000 to $15,000 in monthly revenue.
Australia’s skincare market is highly competitive, with IBIS World reporting 4,688 businesses in the cosmetics and toiletries industry generating $5.9 billion in revenue in 2024.
To stand out, Jackson and Agostino designed their brand to focus on accessibility, affordability, and simplicity.
‘We didn’t know how to create a brand or do anything, but we just stuck to our values,’ Jackson said.
Their product range includes a three-step system featuring a face and beard wash, a deep pore exfoliant, and a moisturiser.
‘We know there’s a huge gap in the market and guys deserve to have skincare that’s made for them,’ Jackson said.
Watch the full video of their story below.
Source: Instagram/mr.skincare_aus
What’s the most surprising mistake you’ve made while pursuing a dream? Share your experiences in the comments below.
