Pregnancy & Women's Wellbeing

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Julia d'Albert-Pusey, Founder of Myrtle & Maude, located in Leeds, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Myrtle & Maude specialises in women's wellness focusing on natural organic and vegan products for fertility, the pregnancy journey, new motherhood, and beyond. The typical Myrtle & Maude customer is health conscious, aware of diet and fitness trends and what she is putting into her body. They are sophisticated in their consumer behaviour and appreciate products with strong values. Myrtle & Maude focuses on organic products and plant and herb-based formulations. This lends itself well to people who want chemical-free, natural, and environmentally friendly products.

Tell us about yourself

After working on the Mega yachts, I had a small brand selling my own acupressure wristbands to target sea sickness. I realised that a significant amount of orders coming in were from expectant mothers looking for morning sickness remedies. After some research, I found a gap in the market for natural products that support women through pregnancy.

Once deciding to move the business in this direction, Myrtle & Maude was created and named after our grandmothers because of family values passed down through the generations. Finding value in the earth around you and using the natural healing powers of nature were important lessons in my childhood that we carried throughout life. I grew up intimately connected to nature, with fresh allotment produce always decking my family table. We still have an allotment in Hyde park which we have had for over 40 years.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

We recently launched a natural, organic, vegan pregnancy, postpartum and baby skincare range in 400 Boots stores nationwide.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

Having a business, you have to make a lot of sacrifices which can have big impacts on your life, like not seeing family or friends as much as you would like; the financial implications can have personal implications, like not being able to get a mortgage and affect your finances. The stress can be quite detrimental, so you have to be fully ready to roll with the punches and be extremely resilient and motivated.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

It can be extremely demoralising sometimes, so you have to have a strong team or family around you.
You may not pay yourself for years, so be ready for your personal finances to suffer and, ideally, have savings you can live from until the business can pay you.
It's 24/7; you cannot switch off from it, and it's all-consuming, especially when the chips are down, so be prepared to be self-motivated.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://myrtleandmaude.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myrtleandmaude/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-d-albert-aa1b5819/

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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