Ripper Paper – CANDACE LENZI

How did you and hubby make the decision to get into toilet paper? (A question I am sure you’re asked regularly!)

We get asked this a lot… usually followed by a bit of a laugh. It wasn’t exactly a lifelong dream to get into toilet paper, but it did come from a genuine place. We saw a gap for a high-quality, Australian-made product. Toilet paper is something we all use, so why not make it better and keep it local? One conversation turned into many, and before we knew it, we were manufacturing our first lot of custom bog roll!

And there is nothing quite like the thrill of walking into a “random” bathroom and seeing your “business” in there… haha.

It’s a “ripper” of a name — how did it pop into your head?

We wanted something that felt unapologetically Australian. Simple, a bit cheeky, and easy to remember. “Ripper” just stuck. It says what it needs to say without taking itself too seriously, which, let’s be honest, is the right tone for toilet paper.

How did you juggle a day job with your passion project on the side?

A lot of late nights, early mornings, and probably too much coffee. In the early days, it was very much a “do what you can, when you can” situation. Working on the website after hours, creating social content whenever we had a free moment, replying to emails on weekends, quoting new customers and learning on the fly. It wasn’t always pretty, but it was exciting and that kept us going. It still does.

Why is being Australian-made so important to you?

For us, it’s about supporting local industry and jobs, and having confidence in the quality of what we’re selling. There’s something really meaningful about knowing the product is made here, not shipped halfway across the world. If we can keep things local and build something sustainable here in Australia, that’s a win for everyone. For us, it’s about creating something of our own that reflects the kind of environment we actually want to be part of.

What’s been the feedback from customers since you started?

Honestly, better than we could have hoped. People love the quality, but also the story behind the brand. We’ve had great feedback from households, as well as businesses like hotels and offices, especially around the convenience of our packaging. It’s been really rewarding to see people not just try it, but come back and reorder.

What’s the hardest thing about running a small business in Australia in 2026?

Rising costs, supply chain hiccups, and wearing about ten different hats at once. Some days it can feel pretty relentless, and at times impossible.

That said, I think anyone who’s worked in a role that didn’t quite align with their values knows that feeling of wanting to find a better way. Something that’s your own. Our past experiences really shaped how we think about business. We feel incredibly lucky to have had the support of family and a wonderful group of friends (old and new) who’ve helped us take that leap and make this dream a reality.

For us, it’s not just about building a business. We’re trying to create something meaningful for our family and a future for our kids. A company that stands for something positive, where relationships with customers and suppliers are built on trust, respect, and genuine care.

Are you looking at expanding and growing the business?

Yes… but in a way that stays true to what we’re building. We’d love to keep growing our reach, work with more businesses and households, and continue improving the product and our offering.

A big focus for us is really establishing ourselves here in Australia first. We want to make sure that we’re looking after our own backyard before thinking too far beyond it. There’s a real opportunity to give back locally over time, whether that’s supporting Australian jobs, communities, or industries close to home.