Mum and beauty therapist Kim Fuller understands all too well the importance of self-care, and appreciates that it comes in many different forms, whether it be cosying up in a new, soft pair of pyjamas with a face mask or lighting a candle and reading a good book. She created Selfcare Sunday to help other mums to feel their best, offering all things self-care in one place. She works hard to find or create the most amazing (often dual purpose) products on the market, continuously upskilling and researching to ensure she provides only the best of the best for her customers. Here Kim talks to The Natural Parent Magazine about the passion behind her business, how she started out in the beginning, and her exciting plans for the future.
The passion: What inspired you to set up your business?
My inspiration comes from my kids and my life as a mum. I am a beauty therapist, so I know how important looking after yourself is. As a mum, I felt I never had time for self-care. I wasn’t happy in my own skin and didn’t feel like a person anymore. I lost myself – I became like most of us when we have children: “just a mum”. I decided to incorporate short bursts of things in my day that made me ME again and grounded me. For example – in the morning, instead of lounging around checking my phone while my kids float round aimlessly, I will brush my teeth, do my skincare and brush my hair (a 5-minute task), but it sets me up for the day and gets me going. I get dressed every day too. Even on days when I have a sick child or a grizzly baby (my children are 10, 5, 3 and 9 months), I will make sure those 5 minutes are put aside for me. I started to realise quickly that it’s life changing – it seems silly, but by not rolling over and scrolling my phone, I wake up (not that I sleep – 2 hours at best with a bedsharing breastfeeding baby!) feeling less irritated, refreshed and ready for the day. I am so much more productive! I notice such a huge change just from that small amount of self-care.
HELLO SELFCARE SUNDAY! It’s something I stand by so passionately. It’s doable with a baby – light a candle, put on a face mask, do a foot peel, tan your body and face. Just one of those simple things that can make you feel human again. I want to support all mums to feel their best. Not only am I here to provide product advice, I also work with inner health. I have a certificate in business, diploma in advanced beauty therapy, extensive brand training and a certificate in nutrition.
The launch: How did you start out in the beginning?
When I worked as a beauty therapist, I was always doing treatments at home on the side – from 16, I had my finger in the pie – so I have always helped out with everyone around me when they needed beauty advice and services. When we moved to Nelson from Christchurch in 2019, I knew I wouldn’t have the time or space to focus on treatments anymore, whether that be mobile or at a spa/salon, but I still had a burning passion to help people – I decided to start an online store on my already made website (where my info and services were) and I started making my own body care. But, I didn’t have the money or time to really give it my all – my son (#3) was 5 months and was hard work. I also spend so much of my time doing free skin consults on friends and friends of friends that I decided in 2022 when coming into some money (after my 4th child – now 9 months) it was time to finally become a company.
The innovation: What was the biggest breakthrough for you with your business?
It was during Covid lockdown #1 – I realised there is no beauty shop in Nelson that focuses on self-care (that I have ever found or seen). There are branded shops and there are professional spas, but I wanted a space where I could have multiple brands and skin consults with no pressure to purchase a certain brand. I currently work online, my goal is to become a full beauty and self-care store.
