Creating a small business out of nowhere!

Am I glad I started Quiet Lily? - Absolutely!

Creating Quiet Lily has given me purpose, focus and a surprising amount of personal growth along the way. It’s pushed me to learn new skills, think more critically, build confidence and better understand the many different perspectives people have around health, lifestyle and wellbeing.

At times it’s been exciting, overwhelming and stressful. It’s also been a humbling reminder that none of us have everything figured out. We’re all learning as we go, doing the best we can with what we know at the time.

More than anything, it has reminded me of the importance of personal responsibility, practicing what you believe in, staying open-minded and continuing to grow.

And occasionally… learning technology without wanting to throw the computer out the window. I’ve never sworn so much in my life.

So, what’s it been like? Well, I’ve made mistakes…

I was excited, I told too many people - they wanted stock; but I hadn’t even ordered jars. What do they say, don’t tell anyone your plans until you’ve achieved them. Looking back, I probably would have waited until things were more established. Once people knew, there was anticipation and plenty of suggestions around what I should be creating, doing and how I should do it – they meant well, but some didn’t understand everything that was involved in starting a business, or with doing it in a way that felt right for me with integrity.

I wanted to ensure I covered all bases. This was never about chasing trends or creating products simply to sell them.

If people were going to spend their hard-earned money on something I created, I wanted it to align with my values and uphold the integrity of my products. That meant researching ingredients thoroughly, understanding the benefits of the ingredients, learning about skin sensitivities and allergies, ensuring ingredients were chemical free, cruelty free, ethically sourced and fair trade, while also being mindful of the environmental impact wherever possible.

Oh, and it turns out starting a business comes with a complimentary panel of 500 unpaid consultants and marketing experts. I received enough advice to launch a podcast, start a YouTube channel, dance on TikTok, sell courses, or to become an influencer.

At one point I half expected somebody to suggest I stand on the side of the road dressed as a giant pink jar waving at traffic.... I chose not to do any of those things!

Honestly - I quickly realised trying to be perfect was never going to be an option - because I knew I was never going to please everyone. This reinforced checking in with myself, so not to lose sight of my original purpose or neglecting my own self care in pursuit of said perfectionism. As my cousin recently reminded me, which I felt reflected what I'm trying to do with Quiet Lily. "Creative works surely happen more when your happy and healthy".

The truth is I've never been comfortable with the idea of becoming a brand. I don't want to be the loudest person in the room and certainly don't want to pretend to be somebody I'm not online. If I'm going to show up on social media I'd rather, do it in a way that feels genuine, honest and aligned with who I am.

But in a world where so much online may be filtered or manufactured, especially with the introduction of AI and heavily curated content, I’ve realised the importance of showing there is a real person behind Quiet Lily.

I do this by sharing not just what I make but why I make it and the truthful journey behind it.

So how did it begin? - It began unexpectedly after a friend noticed a jar in my house.

Creating a small business from nowhere has been an immeasurable learning experience and continues to be exciting, overwhelming, stressful and deeply rewarding all at once.

I had been making a balm among a few other items for myself for years. My reason for creating them was simple. I wanted to know exactly what I was putting on my skin and what my body was absorbing.

Without hesitation, my friend who had experience in marketing suggested I consider selling the balm.

- At first, the idea terrified me.

I had no business experience or know how, my technology skills were prehistoric, and I didn’t know how I would financially make it happen. In the beginning, I even went without my takeaway coffees which I may have projected that in the direction of the computer.

I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have supportive friends and family throughout this journey. Still, I wanted to build things as independently as I could, accepting little help. Which meant growth was slower and products were created gradually over time. I budgeted my own finances, used some of my savings to purchase ingredients, jars, labels, stationery, equipment and to register the business. I upgraded my computer and slowly started preparing for the possibility of market stalls and supplying products through other businesses and avenues.

The friend who first encouraged me to do this has been worth her weight in gold, especially when it comes to the technology side of things. I now get to bounce ideas and work collaboratively in her presence on creative technology ideas and more.

While I’ve had support along the way, the heart behind Quiet Lily has always come from me. The products, the values, the ideas, the journal writing and the intention behind it all are deeply personal.

For me, it’s never been about extremes.

It’s about becoming more aware, making informed choices and doing what feels supportive rather than harmful. I put this into practice in how I run this little venture.

More than anything, I hope to encourage others to do the same and think about the small changes they can make in caring for themselves, while also creating more mindfulness around protecting the environment, which also plays a role in our wellbeing.

Given my own extensive medical history, I’ve come to learn the importance of taking back responsibility and control for my own self-care and health; this is a lesson I’ve also taken into this business.

Life can be challenging enough without neglecting our own wellbeing along the way.

Creating a small business out of nowhere!
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