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About Boofheads

Cathy Greenhough is the owner, director and developer of the Boofheads haircare range, which was launched in 2005.

In order to tame the unruly hair of her three children, Cathy had searched for natural, high quality, effective hair products. However, such products were hard to find. Thus the idea for her fourth "baby", Boofheads, was born.

Cathy comes from a long line of business entrepreneurs.

Her great grandfather, Horace Percival Launder began the Launder family business in 1889 (though he is a much respected family ancestor, not surprisingly, none of Cathy's children are named after him). In time Launder would grow into a large, national wholesale business, producing jewellery for well known Australian retailing brands such as Oroton, David Jones and Myer. However, Horace began the business by dealing in sporting goods and contraceptives (yes, apparently people had sex back then). He was a supplier to GJ Coles' first store in Smith St Collingwood. GJ considered Horace a capable businessman and asked him if he'd like to become a partner in 'Coles'. The Launder family occasionally dreams about what fortunes they may have enjoyed if Horace had said, 'Yes!'

Horace's son carried on the business and also made a good living by obtaining one of the few available Australian licences to import silver jewellery using marcasite, a semi precious mineral. The jewellery virtually sold itself, so he happily used his spare time to improve his golf. Cathy's father and his brother inherited the family business and took it interstate during the 1960s. Being keen to disprove the proverb 'From shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves in three generations', they worked hard.

Cathy's father was the mastermind behind the development of the successful 'Ooh La La' accessories brand and retail chain during the 1980s. The Launder family business was eventually sold to Swarovski, the crystal manufacturers.

Not content to retire quietly, Cathy's megalomaniac Dad (just a joke Mr Launder!) bought a printing business and a cosmetics business with the proceeds and is still a partner in both with each of his two sons. Family dinners are always interesting!

Being born into such an entrepreneurial family has meant that Cathy has been able to gain a great range of business experience. She began her career as a 'check out chic' in the Jewellery Island at Coles, then was 'promoted' to the bargain basement at Myers in a similar set up. Having served her "apprenticeship" she was then invited to join the Launder head office.

Cathy's new job was to rip apart old stock and design new pieces (she is proud to announce that a TV newsreader wore one once!). From there she was given the task of producing a range. It was hard work for the boss' daughter to gain the respect of all the warehouse staff but she thinks she did. Her father always told her, "Family members have to work twice as hard."

As well as ensuring there was stock on the shelves and that it was selling, Cathy's job entailed designing and sourcing product worldwide. While she was working at Launder, joint venture manufacturing businesses were set up in Thailand and China and so she spent quite a bit of time visiting Asia.

Meanwhile, ever the go-getter, Cathy's father bought into a small direct mail business, and began selling jewellery through the post.

While Cathy kept working away at the Melbourne based business, she found herself distractedly pining for a handsome Englishman she'd fallen head over heels in love with. She'd met this longhaired lout with a pierced ear at work, when he'd helped out in the warehouse to earn some money for his Aussie holiday. The relationship provided great fodder for the office gossip machine - the boss' daughter with the warehouse boy! However, holidays don't last forever, and Lady Launder's Lover had tearfully returned home to Pommie land.

Seeing a way to combine career and romance, Cathy suggested she could set up a new branch of the direct mail business in London. When her father agreed, Cathy caught the next plane out. Perhaps it was her romantic mother who convinced her cautious father to let Cathy go. Cathy's Mum had begun to work in the mail order section of the family company, in her first paid employment since having children.

After 3 years of 'bloody hard work' in London, Cathy tripled the staff numbers and built the mailing list to 20,000 purchasing customers. Cathy also convinced her new man to migrate to warmer climes and triumphantly returned to Melbourne with her catch.

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