The drive: What challenges have you overcome?
Well, we’re still pretty new in the e-commerce business world, so I’m sure the real challenges are still to come! But there have definitely been some interesting learning curves already.
The biggest one was probably learning to let go. Being used to having control over everything (hello, type A personality!), trusting a team and letting them take the reins was a bit scary at first. But you really can’t do everything yourself, and having good people around you makes such a difference.
Then there’s all the tech stuff – oh my goodness. The website construction nearly broke me. Finding the right designer to bring my vision close to what I wanted took a few attempts and quite a bit of heartache, but I’ve learned that some things will always be a work in progress, and that’s okay. You’re not going to get everything perfect, and accepting that has been a lesson in itself. You win some, you lose some, and sometimes knowing the right questions to ask is more valuable than getting a response to a question that didn’t need answering in the first place.
The educational side has been another challenge. Even with my background in reading medical literature, trying to sift through all the research about low-tox living and making sure the chemicals which are touted to be harmful in the long term, are actually harmful, takes a lot of time, i.e. ensuring any claims made are evidence based.
But maybe the biggest challenge? Getting people to understand why this matters. Unless someone’s been affected by health issues like infertility, cancer, or hormone-related problems, the whole low-tox concept can seem a bit unnecessary. I mean, my husband still buys cans of Rexona on sale – pretty sure we have about nine in the cupboard somewhere! But that’s okay – change starts with awareness, and awareness takes time.
For better or worse: What are the pros and cons of running your own business?
Pros: Having complete control over the business and getting to make all the important decisions that shape its future.
Cons: Having complete control over the business and having to make all the important decisions that shape its future!
But really, there’s so much more to it. On the bright side, getting to bring evidence-based low-tox awareness to the gifting industry feels like being a friendly health detective in a world of pretty packaging.
As someone who’s constantly giving and receiving gifts in my professional life, it’s exciting to be changing the game from the inside out. Every hamper is a tiny step toward a healthier future for our little ones. I’m meeting the most amazing people I never would have crossed paths with otherwise. There are so many incredible small businesses out there creating fantastic products! I only recently discovered what a publicist does – who knew that was even a job?
It’s also pushed me to dive deeper into low-tox living myself. The more I learn, the more aware I become of what goes into and onto our bodies. Plus, I get to be creative in a completely different way from my usual work!
Now for the real talk… The cons? Time management is the eternal struggle. It’s funny – we have clients coming to us because they want to outsource their gifting, knowing their time is better spent elsewhere, while I’m over here trying to figure out how to clone myself!
The line between work and life gets so blurry that sometimes it feels more like work-work balance than work-life balance. Thankfully my daughter keeps me in check and reminds me why I did this in the first place!
Then there’s the constant evolution of technology. Being a child of the 80s means keeping up with social media trends, and cyber security is yet another challenge to master. It’s not rocket science, but it’s like trying to hit a moving target – just when you think you’ve got it figured out, everything changes!
Add in the stress of managing staff, meeting deadlines, and organising everything, and some days feel like you’re juggling with one hand tied behind your back. But you know what? I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Hopes and dreams: What next?
You know what’s really exciting? Seeing people’s eyes light up when they “get it” – when they understand that small changes in their daily choices can make a big difference. I love interviewing doctors and healthcare professionals who understand the science behind all this. Sure, talking to doctors isn’t as sexy as Instagram influencers, but it’s real and evidence-based – and we need more of that in today’s world!
We’re heading into our first Easter and Mother’s Day season, which is both exciting and nerve-wracking! I hope people will see the value in gifting beautiful, quality, low-tox Australian made/sourced products to their loved ones. We’re working on some new ideas too, like “Introduction to Low-Tox Living” hampers for those just starting their journey, and themed boxes that make it easier for people to make healthier choices in specific areas of their lives.
The dream isn’t just about being a gifting company – it’s about being a gateway to understanding low-tox living in an evidence-based, non-scary way. Imagine if every corporate gift, every baby shower present, every “thinking of you” package actually contributed to someone’s wellbeing instead of just taking up space, all while supporting amazing Australian small-batch producers who share our values. Every gift has the potential to start someone on their own journey toward more conscious choices, and that’s pretty powerful when you think about it.
Visit the Alara Way website to find out more, and connect with them on Facebook and Instagram.
