With her background in midwifery and reproductive sciences, Nikki Keily wanted to combine everything she had learned along the way with her passion for helping and supporting women. Placenta encapsulation is something she feels very passionately about and the positive feedback she has received from her clients has inspired her to share her knowledge with others. She started Onglowing with a desire to see women thrive in their postpartum and by sharing her research, she hopes to educate others on the benefits of placenta encapsulation.
The passion: What inspired you to set up your business?
I was raised by a strong, independent mother. She taught me the fundamentals of feminism and women-centric thinking. From a very young age, I knew I would be working with women, focusing on helping improving their health. I studied midwifery and reproductive sciences at university but after multiple surgeries and stage 3 cancer, it meant I found myself unable to work in the usual capacity. I wanted to find a way to incorporate the amazing things I had learned with my passion for helping women, but needing it to fit a new mould for my life and new disability. So Onglowing was born (see what I did there? haha).
The launch: How did you start out in the beginning?
Once I knew placenta encapsulation was an achievable goal for me, I started brainstorming. I began small, by buying items online with my disability cheque. Every fortnight I would purchase one reasonably priced item and put it aside until I had everything I needed for professional processing of placentas.
Much of what I knew about placentas I had learned from hands-on experience in hospitals, so I knew it would be a good way to use my skills.
I had a lot of push back from people in my life not being ready to fully accept that someone would want to ingest their placenta. But the more research I did, the more passionate I became and people were excited to take on my knowledge and try the benefits for themselves. My initial clients came through word of mouth and from there it just spread. All of my clients have reported positive results.
The innovation: What was the biggest breakthrough for you with your business?
Covid-19. Being in isolation forced to me to assess my goals and use my time productively. I sat down, many times, and put a plan in place for the growth of my business. I was able to build a purpose-built lab space. The more passion and effort I put into this business, the more my clients could see and trust Onglowing. I have since become a stockist for many amazing small businesses focusing on postpartum health and want to continue to grow, improve and support others. Being part of this community is important to me; I want to see women thrive in their postpartum, not merely survive.
