This year on Saturday 8th March, we're joining Holly Tucker & co in shouting loudly in support of female founders. Not only am I part of this gang, but the vast majority of GreenHouse suppliers are women-led businesses, creating beautiful products that work without leaving a hefty impact on our environment.
Over on our social media channels, I've posted pictures of many of those women in celebration of their contribution to our mission. These photos range from the professional head shot to the I-hate-my-photo-being-taken-so-I'm-hiding-behind-a-plant shot and everything in between, reflecting I think, the diversity of characters we get to work with!
I'd also like the opportunity to share more about some of our wonderful suppliers. So kicking us off on International Women's Day, Amy Hogarth, founder of The CAHM Collective, agreed to be interviewed about her journey so far as a female founder.
First of all, tell us a bit about your business
We are a luxury home fragrance and well-being brand sharing a positive mental-health message through beautiful design-led gifts. We started on the kitchen table in 2020 and have been making candles ever since. We have expanded our product range over the years into diffusers, wax melts, lotion, wash, bath salts and aromatherapy products. There's always something new in the pipeline!
What inspired you to start?
It was a distraction to a very stressful time during lockdown. I was furloughed, locked in and had a very poorly family member I could not visit. I also had my own challenges with anxiety and undertook EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) therapy to help - this changed my life and gave me the headspace to turn a distraction into a business.
How do you incorporate sustainable practices into your business?
We hold sustainability as one of our core values, so it impacts every decision we make. When we are choosing raw materials, packaging, how we ship things, how we market things, sustainability always comes into it. If you build a core set of values for yourself like this, all the decisions become easy because you can ask yourself 'does this fit' and if it does you know you are doing the right thing.
How did you get stocked at The GreenHouse?
Our relationship has been going for so long now my memory is hazy! I am pretty sure that Rebecca approached me because she'd seen we were a local business with values and an ethos that matched The GreenHouse. We jumped at the chance of course. The GreenHouse is an amazing business in the wonderful location of Ripon. We love to be stocked in shops who have the same values as us.
What do you love most about running your own business... and what’s most challenging?
I love the autonomy of it. No two days are the same. I have a very busy mind and it keeps me challenged. I like to be challenged! The most challenging thing for me personally is prioritisation, and accepting I cannot do it all. As the business has grown I am letting go of things and that is difficult but necessary!
Any top tips for other small business founders out there?
Just be brave and do it! The worst thing that can happen is someone says no, but if you don't try you won't know! For those already established, I think the best advice I could give is to really take the time to work out your vision, mission and values and what you want to achieve with your business. If you do that, lots of the other big stuff becomes much easier!
So there we are - let me know which other brands you'd like to learn mmore about... believe me there are lots of interesting stories out there! And if you think you brand would be a good fit at The GreenHouse, do get in touch :)
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