Celtic Bath & Beauty

www.celticbathbeauty.com

1. Tell us about your business

Celtic Bath & Beauty is a brand new business based in Silkstone Qld, Australia which manufactures it's own handmade natural bath & beauty products. Our specialty is natural soaps, lip balms and bath salts.

2. When and why did you start your business?

I started the business in February 2009 after a desire to re-enter the workforce after the birth of our two sons. I had always wanted to have my own business and was able to create the business after finding a niche market for my products. I also wanted the flexibility that having your own business can provide in terms of work hours vs family time.

3. On a personal level, what have you achieved with of your business?

I have been able to start my own business from the initial concepts and follow it right through to it's creation - this part was very rewarding for me.

4. What are some of the challenges you’ve faced in growing your business?

I found that one of the biggest challenges I have faced in growing my business has been balancing work time and family commitments. My husband and family are very supportive of my business venture, so I am very pleased to have their assistance. I also have faced the challenge of knowing how to market my business successfully. I am fortunate that I have a business background as I worked as a company accountant for several years, however I did not have any experience in marketing, so for me this was a real challenge and I have been able to work through this by educating myself by reading anything I can find on marketing products etc. and I feel that I have somewhat been able to learn a great deal on the subject of marketing to benefit my business.

5. What activities have been successful in promoting your business?

My first successful activity in promoting my business was to have my products placed on display in a local store for sale. Creating a website with an Online Store for the business was also another successful activity. I also rent stall space in a local market once a month to sell and promote my business to new customers. Listing the business website on different internet business directories such as Shopseek.com.au and various search engines has also been successful in promoting my business online.

6. What activities were less successful for marketing your business?

The traditional newspaper advertising for my business was not attempted as it is costly and rarely successful in reaching my intended nieche market.

7. Name your favourite thing about your business

The products that I sell. They are all truly beautiful and smell divine! Also, meeting new people and being creative in both running the business and developing new products.

8. Who or what other businesses or business people inspire you?

Bill Gates. I admire him for his business successes with Microsoft and I also admire he and his wife's personal philanthropic activities.

9. What are your plans for the future of your business?

My immediate future plans for Celtic Bath & Beauty is to increase my customer base into the Wholesale market, to supply my products to other businesses to sell through their own stores or for Hotels, Motels, Bed & Breakfasts, Resorts to purchase my products for their guests to use. I would also like to in the not to distant future, increase my customer base to include International customers.

10. Share your best business tip with our readers.

My best business tip is before you start any business venture - thoroughly research the business concept that you wish to undertake and the market that you are wanting to enter with your product. By doing this, you will save a lot of time and money in the long run. When I started my business, one of the books I read was 'Show Mummy the Money' by Sonia Williams and it helped me greatly with evaluating my business idea.

Visit us at: www.celticbathbeauty.com