By the time patients are sitting in Dr. Noreen Galaria’s office, it’s because there’s already a problem. The dermatologist specializes in treating skin cancers with her husband, Dr. Irfan Galaria, a reconstructive plastic surgeon. In their offices, they have seen nearly a half million patients and the number-one problem they see is preventable sun-related skin cancers.
“Sunscreen alone just isn’t enough,” said Dr. Noreen Galaria. “People need protection from the inside out—not just topical treatments that wear off. People want a better answer.”
After a decade of research and development, that better answer came with creating their own line of Inner Glow supplements that are sourced with high-quality ingredients that are scientifically proven to provide sun protection, grow hair, and reverse aging.
Initially available only in their Virginia offices, word soon spread throughout the medical community, leading other dermatologists to reach out to stock the products in their practices. Within a year, their products were available countrywide, but exclusively within doctors’ offices and plastic surgery clinics.
Dr. Galaria recognized an accessibility issue with a daily supplement primarily available through a dermatologist, who patients might see once a year or even less. Even more challenging was the equity issue of those who can afford dermatological care. Dr. Galaria believed their sun protection supplement should be accessible to everyone, everywhere.
The following year, Inner Glow—a small business guided by a mission-driven founder—launched in Amazon’s store.
“It allows us to reach people we would never be able to reach in doctors’ offices,” said Dr. Galaria. Amazon, she said, makes it easy for customers to access their product wherever they are and without having to pay for a dermatologist appointment.
While the first year of selling was a steep learning curve for the doctors, Dr. Galaria said she’s seen Amazon make investments in the seller experience to simplify the process. Starting with Seller University, an education destination with thousands of hours of free educational content for sellers at all stages of their journey. Dr. Galaria has used this and recommends it to other entrepreneurs. Now with the Inner Glow launched and products listed, the Galarias are leaning into other tools Amazon offers sellers to simplify parts of their business often deemed burdensome, like logistics.
Inner Glow uses Fulfillment by Amazon, a service where Amazon fulfillment associates can pick, pack, and ship their orders. Shipping with FBA costs 70% less per unit than comparable premium options offered by other U.S. fulfillment services.
“That’s exactly what I want as a physician, is someone who can handle that whole side of it, and that’s been amazing,” said Dr. Galaria. They are also using Subscribe and Save, a program that gives Inner Glow customers a discount on consistent deliveries. Dr. Galaria said it makes ‘supplement refills’ easy without customers having to remember to reorder, which is great for customers and gives Inner Glow consistent business they can count on.
“Amazon makes it so easy for patients or customers to buy our product,” she said. “Sometimes even patients sitting in my office during a visit prefer to buy in the Amazon store rather than deal with waiting at the front desk and having to run their credit card.”
With an estimated one in five Americans developing skin cancer by the age of 70, Inner Glow needs to be everywhere, said Dr. Galaria—and being in Amazon’s store is helping make that a reality.