This is a little feature on Gullivers Retreats and how it has come about. Scarborough Mumbler is running a feature to showcase some local “mumpreneur” businesses.
Kelly is the founder of Gullivers Retreats and is mum of one little boy. Below she tells her story and the products she makes.
“I have worked from the age of 14 and had 6 months off when I had my son, but soon felt the need to be back at work as I get bored easily. I know this sounds terrible but my husband is self employed and at the time it made sense for him to become a stay at home dad for a while.
I decided I wanted to spend more family time at home, as I work evenings, therefore only see my husband and son in the morning and half a day on Saturday. To one day enable this, I started my business.
I make homemade soaps, shampoo bars, bath Salts and body butters. These are all Sls free and vegan friendly, environmentally friendly and plastic free. Sls is the solidifying agent that causes higher pH levels. So instead of mine having high pH levels, they are around 3 to 7. They last a long time as they lather as appose to crumpling/flaking like a lot of shop bought soaps. Plus they are more conditioning too….
I also make lip balms but these are not vegan friendly and contain sweet almond oil. I am looking into how I make these vegan friendly but it is deeming very difficult.
As if this wasn’t enought, I decided to try my hand at sewing and after 20 years I have mastered it! I make aromatherapy heat bags. I did almost a month of research before processing these as I knew that wheat was a bit of a worry to many people. The result, I decided to go with rice and homegrown English lavender.
Draught excluders is a new thing I have started to make too and have many more ideas to come.
I have also on my agenda got bridal bouquets and button holes but the flowers can be for any occasion.
My business has allowed me to feel more content and I have reduced my hours as a support worker to concentrate on my venture, which in turn, allows me to have more family time.
I hope that one day in my bright future I can do this full time. If you happen to run a shop that would be interested in stocking my products, please do get in touch…
Thank you for reading my blog 🙂 and please do visit my Facebook here”
