Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Wendy Lilley, Founder of Kulture, located in Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Kulture offers a range of plant-based blends that help women to improve their gut health, balance hormones, improve sleep, reduce menopausal symptoms, remove brain fog as well as improve energy levels. Using a range of Ayurvedic herbs, superfoods, and Traditional Chinese Herbs, the range is completely natural, so it works with your body and balances within.
Many women these days need something quick and easy to take, so the blends are ready to drink - you just need to add a liquid of your choice. You can, of course, add them to a smoothie if you like. The range is targeted towards women, and my customers tend to be in the age range of 35-55 years old.
Tell us about yourself
The Kulture range was created and launched in Feb 2018 out of a need to solve a problem I had with my gut. I was constantly bloated, often having sharp stabbing pains in my tummy and getting indigestion quite a lot. I'd experienced stomach issues for years, and it started at an early age. As I got older, it was just becoming worse. Stress is a common cause for me, and stress to the body comes in all shapes and sizes.
I found the more I talked to other women, the more common our problems were, and that's when I decided to create a range that helped women. Working with a herbalist in Queensland and an Acupuncturist in Victoria, the range has expanded over the years, and I now offer 16 products and counting.
I love working on my own business, so I find it easy to stay motivated. I love the health space and have always looked at alternative/natural ways to solve my health issues. I also think having a background in digital and advertising comes in handy as I tend to do most of the website updates, Facebook advertising, email marketing, photography, and copywriting myself.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I launched Facebook ads on day one and received my first sale that day. Not a huge accomplishment, but it was definitely uplifting and encouraging. I'm part of other entrepreneurial groups on Facebook, and some businesses wait months and months for a sale. The other would be the continued increase in revenue year after year.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
One of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner is working by yourself and not being able to bounce ideas off someone else. Also, when you're having a bad sales week or getting customer complaints (not that that happens too often) or social media trolls are leaving comments on your posts or ads, it can be disheartening. You have to keep yourself focused and not let those times get you down, and remember the good times. It's funny, as soon as a few sales come through, all of the above is forgotten :)
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Get your social media going now. Grow that following, and connect with your followers, as it will be a far easier sell to an engaged audience rather than trying to engage with cold audiences.
- Don't wait until everything is perfect - you can always tweak on the way.
- Save money as you'll need it, and keep your full-time or part-time job going for as long as you can juggle the two. But don't be afraid to quit when the time is right.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://kulture.store/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kulturebalance
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kulturebalance/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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