2Inspire Business Profile: The Angel Mystic

In this 2Inspire Business Profile we meet Amanda Tooke aka “The Angel Mystic” who shares her experience of starting her business and how it motivates people to manifest their dreams into reality.

Please tell us what is a typical business day for you?

I work from home so have to be quite structured.  I have a bit of a routine so do daily grounding and protection exercises, followed by a short meditation.  It prepares me for my day and allows me to check in with what I lovingly call “The Upstairs”.

After that each day is different depending on who or what is booked in.  I work with clients either in person, via phone or Skype.  Doing various services from Angel readings giving guidance on moving forward positively, sessions with my VIP clients on 6 month programmes learning how to manifest or spiritually develop.  Or running one of my on line programmes.

In between appointments I am doing admin and getting orders such as my book or Angel Cards ready to post for my online sales or developing a new product.

I do evening appointments approx. 3 evenings per week. On a Monday I run #angelhour on Twitter 8 till 9 pm for hints, tips and messages.

What made you start the business and how did you get started?

I have been a psychic all my life and I am now effectively doing what was my hobby as my job.  Before this business I had a B&B but became ill and as a single parent I had to re-think my whole life. The reason I initially went into working for myself was, when my children were quite young and I wanted to be around for them.  So I needed to find another income and somewhere to live and fast.

However, I got lots of advice in meditation and just followed instructions to set up my Mystic Moon business.  I have never looked back and glad to say my health has improved too.

Over the last 5 years it has grown and grown and I feel such joy to this as my job, though I do work hard and pride myself on being accurate and giving an excellent service.  My business is based on referral and repeat trade.

What would you say has been your greatest accomplishment in the business world to date?

My first book published, “Do I have an Angel?” It launched last December and is getting wonderful reviews.

Helping others gain success either in their personal lives or their own businesses with my VIP programmes, I love to see others achieve their goals.

What has been your biggest challenge in business so far?

I am channelled every day by sceptics.  The other thing I would say is time.

A lot of my work is about introducing other to their Angels as when you connect life becomes a lot easier from parking spaces to finding your life’s purpose. 

I also teach others to manifest their dream life, it is based upon working with Law of Attraction, though I call it Manifesting with Your Angels.  With that we do affirmations and visualisation to achieve our goals, fitting them in around daily life can be a challenge, so I encourage others to do them whilst doing other tasks.  It has to fit in around daily life for it to work.

What are your future plans for the business?

More products, books, apps, and on line Angel Club.  There is a limit with my time and how many clients I can see.  I want more people to know they have Angels waiting to help them, my products do that for me, as everything I do and produce is easy to understand and simple to use.  It has to be because life is complicated enough.

If you had to do it all over again, what would you do differently?

I don’t think I would do anything much differently, but possibly been braver sooner and stepped out of my spiritual closet years earlier.

Why is it so important to inspire young women in particular to follow their dreams?

We should always follow our dreams; life is too short not to. 

Discover what makes your heart sing.  Do that and you will never have to work a day in your life again, as it will always be fun.

What advice would you give to somebody who wants to start a business in your industry?

Always trust your intuition and be authentic.

What or who inspires you in business and why?

Walt Disney, he failed so many times, but never gave up.

What is your favourite inspirational quote?

I wanted to share instead my favourite affirmation instead, hope that is ok as it always makes me feel better -

“Relax the Universe has your back”

Mystic Moon, High Lindeth, Lindeth Lane, Windermere, Cumbria, LA23 3NH

Tel: 015394 44656

www.theangelmystic.co.uk

info@mystic-moon.co.uk

2Inspire Network Review & Competition: Berry Butter - Shea Butter with a twist

Berry Butter: Shea Butter with a Twist

Although I have had this brand of shea body butter since December, I have only just opened it and have been testing it over the past few weeks.  From the day I was first introduced to this product, I had such high hopes, as it smelt absolutely divine and came highly recommended from a friend.

The product is described by the organisation as:

“Berry Butter introduces a wonderfully fragrant twist to an already flawless moisturizer. Each of our products contains amounts of unrefined (white) Shea butter and is enhanced with intoxicating fragrances that last. Choose from floral and citrus-based fragrances for day - and warm, spicy, or woodsy fragrances for evening. Used on the scalp it promotes strong healthy hair.”

It is available in 4 or 8oz and is priced £8.99 and £11.99. I have a 4oz sized tub of the Cranberry Passion butter, which is described as a blend of winter cranberries and appetizing orange.  Although a little goes a long way, a slightly bigger tub would be preferable, because in a very short space of time my tub is nearly empty. I’m not sure whether this is down to the fact that it smells so beautiful that I  often get a bit carried away with the application or because anybody who comes to my house and gets a whiff of the scent always helps themselves and so in a short space of time, my supply is diminishing. Even the kids love to dip their fingers in it because of the lovely smell.

What I love about the product is that it keeps the skin moist all over all day, even the feet area.  My teenage son who is so against using any products or creams that are even remotely feminine can’t keep his hands off it. The product is smooth and not grainy like some shea butter products and doesn’t take forever and a day to melt in your hand. The only downside for me is that the rich scent deters me from using it on my face as I have very sensitive skin and suffer from allergies and so I am reluctant to try anything I’m not sure about in this area. I also think that the price is a bit high for it to be used as an everyday body cream for the whole family, I know this may sound selfish but when I next stock up I will TRY to keep it as my little treat and hide it from the rest of the clan. Although I love the Cranberry Passion,  I  will definitely experiment and try some of the other scents available which are:

*  Brazilian Gold
*  Moroccan Spice
*  Tango
*  Zanzibar
*  Vanilla Skies
*  Lemon Drop

I highly recommend this product, particularly for those women who don’t like to wear heavy perfumes but love their skin to smell good.


Full range of Berry butter is available at:

The Phoenix Center, 73 Oxford Street

Lower Ground Floor, London W1D 2EP

07903 681 026, info@phoenixcenter.co.uk, www.phoenixcenter.co.uk

Distributed by Paris Morgan Ltd

Email: info@berrybutter.co.uk
Tel: 07508766146
Twitter: @berrybutteruk
Instagram: @berrybutteruk

Competition:

For a chance to win a 4 oz & 8 oz  tub of Berry Butter and a cleansing soap in the flavour of your choice, write a catchy phrase/slogan (no more than 1 sentence) expressing why Shea butter is so wonderful!

Email your catchphrase with your full name to marketing@2inspirenetwork.com. Competition ends at 12pm on the 7th March (Only available to UK Residents).

Winner will be announced on the 7th March.

Product review by Hazel Chawapiwa

2Inspire Network Business Profile: Sian Bostwick Jewellery

In this 2Inspire Network Profile we meet Sian Bostwick of SianBostwick Jewellery who has overcome her own personal challenges to build a successful growing business in Jewellery.

Please tell us what is a typical business day for you? 

There no such typical day as sometimes I have to pop into London for meetings, jewellery events, or just pop into Hatton garden, sometimes I am at a show or exhibition for days which means attending the show all day for many days but I meet lots of lovely jewellery stars.

But a workshop day means I get into the workshop at abut 10am having planned out my to do list on the way. When I get into the workshop  I check my online stockists and sort out and beautifully wrap any jewellery orders that need to be posted out that day, accompanied with there own “vintage” style library card which shows the literary inspiration for the jewellery. Then deal with urgent emails and journalist requests plus any other more urgent paperwork. If I have a show or event coming up then I get on and sort out everything for the show.

Then its to the workbench, sometimes I work on a bespoke jewel  am creating for someone like a engagement ring, a trade order for a shop, stock or an online sale. I usually do a few tweets and social media stuff form the workbench, sharing what I am working on or a press feature.

I spend the rest of the day creating jewellery in the workshop, setting sparkling gems, polishing up the jewels so they shine and generally playing with all my tools.

I stop for lunch in the courtyard of the art centre in which our workshop is based, its usually already busy with the other artists so its a lovely social little lunch, very creative and buzzing. After that I'll pop any jewellery orders that need to be sent out to the post office then its back to the workshop.

Usually I head home from the workshop about 7ish, later when at home about 9 or 10ish I start again and finish off any other work that needs to be done, emails, bespoke designs, paper work and admin finishing up by about midnight.

What made you start the business and how did you get started?

After I graduated I began I few internships and work experience placements, this was really useful and some great experience but it didn’t pay. so I began making a few smaller pieces of jewellery selling them locally and taking on a few bespoke commissions whilst gaining all the work experience.

Then it just grew and took over,  I was getting busier and busier with my own

jewellery so I officially started business and created a website and my first collection after a year of various work experience placements I stopped them and launched Sian Bostwick Jewellery at the  one of the jewellery industry's biggest trade shows  "International Jewellery London".

What would you say has been your greatest accomplishment in the business world to date?

It was wonderful to be listed in the HOT 100 in 2012 as one of only 17 NEXGEMS (up & coming jewellery designers) it was a huge boost both for the business and myself, so fantastic to be selected and placed among so many talented jewellery stars it really assured me that I was on the right path.

I was also selected for the kickstart stand at IJL (International Jewellery London) and a finalist for Young Accessory Designer of the Year both in 2010 just a few months into the business, it was a huge surprise and honer to be picked out by industry leaders for this so early on.

We have also gained a few other awards and lots of press coverage both national and international which has been fantastic.

What has been your biggest challenge in business so far?

Finding a space was a big challenge at the start. I had to work from home for the 1^st year as there where no affordable and suitable spaces for me have a workshop and base the business. Since I moved into the Nucleus Arts Centre and set up my workshop there I have been able really develop and grow phenomenally. having that dedicated workspace where I can also have press and clients visit me, hold open studios and shopping evenings and over all be much more professional has been a big factor in our growth as a business.

On a personal level I have been overcoming anxiety issues whilst trying to grow my business, which In the past left been unable to talk to people, panic attacks and more. Though mediation, breathing exercises and slowly building up my confidence I can now attend events and meetings without being a complete wreck, and though I still have a way to go things are getting a LOT better.

What are your future plans for the business?

Grow further and further. I'd like more stockists possibly international, celebrity fans would be a big boost and lots more press features and awards plus taking part in lots more shows and events.

Eventually I want to move to a larger workshop with either a shop front or a dedicated “showroom” area for displaying all our jewels and meetings.

If you had to do it all over again, what would you do differently?

I would have had a e-commerce website from the start as since we have launched the e-commerce site the response has been amazing, and I would have had my branding more refined and defined at the start, plus invested in professional photography at the very start. I didn’t realise at the beginning how extremely important this is.

I do wish I had been able to deal with my anxiety better earlier on as I am aware it has made me miss out on certain opportunities or unable to make the most of some others. but this is slow progress and not something that can be changed quickly.

Why is it so important to inspire young women in particular to follow their dreams?

To fulfil their potential and surprise themselves, as a younger person I would have never thought I would be running my own business, designing and making jewellery and winning awards for it.

Its so important to push yourself and your work all the time, I it would be wonderful to inspire others to do the same and to really fulfil their potential.

 

What advice would you give to somebody who wants to start a business in your industry?

Branding is really important, having you personal story tied in with the look of your website, packaging and everything else so its one consistent story that the consumer and get to know the personal side of there jewellery, why and how it was created and that connection.

Also social media especially twitter has been hugely useful for connecting not just with jewellery fans but with stylists, journalists and more.

What or who inspires you in business and why?

I love making and creating jewellery, especially bespoke jewels. Its a inspiration in itself, I just couldn’t stop, I love making and designing these beautiful jewels which will be treasured forever, have meaning and value beyond there financial worth and that will hopefully be passed down the generations. Its a very precious and special thing.

What is your favourite inspirational quote?

The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be. –Ralph Waldo Emerson

Contact Details:

Sian Bostwick Jewellery

www.sianbostwick.co.uk

twitter: @SianBostwick

email: sian_bostwick@live.co.uk