To celebrate their dedication, we’re spotlighting four of the most exciting, British-based and women-owned brands. Ahead, discover how they make it work, even in extraordinary times, and where they found their inspiration. From family-run Caribbean food cooked up in a Welsh kitchen to the (alcohol-free) tastes of Colombia via Bristol, they prove that there’s no one way to transform your side hustle into a viable 9-to-5.
Click through to get inspired and to help support independent female businesses, each and every day…
It was a combination of Dry January and a life-changing holiday to South America that inspired Bristolian Ellie Webb to found alcohol-free spirit company Caleño. “I went to watch a live band and found the lack of variety in the non-alcoholic drinks at the event to be a stark contrast to the vibrant music,” she explains. “A few months later while travelling around Colombia, I found myself reinspired by the colourful streets, the joyous people and the abundance of tropical fruits.” Putting the two together, Caleño was soon born, offering a more exciting, lively alternative to alcohol.
Ellie describes her tropical-inspired drinks as “joy-filled” and she’s not wrong – flavours include the Light & Zesty (‘sun-drenched’ Inca berry, citrus and spice botanicals) and the Dark & Spicy (a warming mix of pineapple, ginger and kola nut spices). Perfect for cocktail lovers and warmer spring days.
Family-owned business Earl’s Kitchen – run by a daughter-father duo in south Wales – understands the power and magic of home-cooked food. “My dad has been working as a chef since he was 28,” cofounder Charmaine Smikle tells us. “He had a few recipes that were popular wherever he worked, including his Barbados sauce, which he thought he could one day sell for people to use at home.” Real life always got in the way of any progress though, all his time cooking tied up with his full-time job. Then three years ago, during a walk around a local farmers’ market, Charmaine and her dad decided to launch a gourmet Caribbean food business, including a tasty collection of sauces, chutneys, seasoning packs and selection boxes. Despite being a brand-new seller to Amazon (so new, in fact, it’s still in the process of getting its own storefront on the site), Earl’s Kitchen is already proving a huge hit with shoppers’ tastebuds. “Starting a family business has enabled me to leave behind a legacy that I can be proud of and explore passions that I couldn’t have explored in the same way in my day job,” Charmaine says.
Those of us with sensitive skin know how tricky it can be to find ultra gentle beauty products and tools. Erin Graybill didn’t stop at a simple online search, though – she used her experiences to found Niré Beauty, a line-up of affordable, super soft, pro-level makeup brushes made without using animal hair. “I found that there were no products on the market that were suitable for my sensitive skin and that were within my price range,” she explains. Based in Newcastle, she now oversees a global team spanning five continents and the brand continues to go from strength to strength. “Providing products that light up the faces of my customers and help contribute to their wellbeing and their confidence is the ethos that continues to drive my business today,” she tells us.
“Ever since I can remember, I wanted to run my own company,” Kat Maconie tells us. “All the steps I took in my early career covering production design and buying were deliberate training for when I took the big plunge!” All the preparation clearly paid off – Kat now runs her eponymous accessories brand, designing and crafting bold and playful footwear and bags.
Launched in 2009, Kat has learned quickly how to navigate the tricky waters of business. “You definitely need a certain mindset to run your own business, as unless you’re unbelievably lucky, you will encounter many bumps along the way,” she notes. “All the women (and man) at Kat Maconie have similar strong, brave, confident and independent mindsets, and it’s these qualities I now always look for when recruiting new members of the team.” These qualities clearly resonate through Kat’s design aesthetic too. Think sculptural heels, pop art shades of yellow, blue and hot pink, and striking metal accents.
All of these amazing businesses can be found on Amazon’s International Women’s Day hub page. Get shopping and get supporting!
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