Female Founder Name: Kim Sloan
Business Name: My Habitat Products
Website: www.myhabitatproducts.com.au
Tell us about your business. What products or services do you offer?: My Habitat Manufactures, Distributes, Wholesale and retails 100% Toxin Free cleaning and personal products in Australia. We manufacture from scratch in our Malanda workshop in Far North Queensland.
What inspired you to start your business?: My Dad inspired me to go into business before he passed suddenly just after I moved back closer to home. Wellness of humans, and the environment have always been my passion from a toddler, just ask my Mum. My Habitat Products was started by a woman in her late 60s, and she also inspired me in what she had achieved at an older age to provide environmentally friendly products to cater for our harsh Australian conditions, all by herself.
How long have you been running your business?: I have personally run My Habitat Products since 1st April 2016. Almost 10 years now. It is hard to believe.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a woman in business, and how did you overcome it?: My biggest challenge in running a business was raising my children as a single mother, whilst moving house every 2 years and lack of flow in my finances. Every challenge that arose I took the mindset of achieving a solution to the problem and taking one step at a time. Even if I had to take a few steps backwards. My kids and I were always 1st priority and the business flowed slowly like thick wet cement; I finally got it to dry, and I realised I'd built a nice solid foundation.
What has been your proudest moment as a business owner?: My proudest moment as a business owner is that I am still here with a viable business and am well supported. My children have now left the nest and are successful in their lives and are good human beings.
What strategies have helped you grow your business?: Best strategies would be not to stress and the education of my products to my customers, which in turn results in word-of-mouth advertising. So powerful. Markets and events have also been vital to have my branding seen consistently with FNQ locals.
What tools or resources have been game-changers for your business?: We are still at backyard basics. Consistency has been key and learning off my customers and taking on board what they say. Customers are always right.
Can you share one key lesson you’ve learned about managing finances as a business owner?: Keeping your personal finances separate from your business. Keeping up and on top of your accounting practices so you always know what is going on. If it gets out of hand, then it's harder to fix the problem. I also found having a bookkeeper to have a look over what you are doing and ensuring that it all is correct helps to keep the stress down. I do all my own accounting, but I get the bookkeeper to check it. Made a big difference and she always gives proactive feedback.
How do you balance the demands of your business with your personal life?: Well this is super hard. I have tried many things over the last 10 years. I would include my kids in the business and try and make it fun. They also got paid. I did a lot whilst they were asleep. I also made weekend markets a part of a getaway weekend for my family. We would camp at the beach before a market and have a weekend away. We always did it on the cheap but had a lot of fun. Kids came first in most cases but as long as I kept it fun for them it worked. As they got older or I was quite busy, we would organise friend time or I would take time away from the business to focus on the family or rebalance myself. A lot of ups and downs through this time.
What leadership qualities do you believe are essential for running a successful business?: To run a business, you must be passionate about it and know where you are going with it. You need to have drive and stamina to complete all types of tasks. Have family or friends to back you up or just to be able to use as a sounding board when your brain is full. Having a little business knowledge is handy or be willing to learn. Good work ethic.
How do you motivate and manage your team?: My team actually motivates and manages me. :-) I struggle a little on my own, but when I have a team or even one other person, I have to keep them employed, active, motivated; which then in turn motivates me.
What role does mentorship or networking play in your business journey?: Networking is vital in any business. It creates knowledge, education, opportunities and support.
What trends do you think will shape your industry in the coming years?: Environmental and sustainability of humans and the earth.
How do you stay ahead of the competition in your industry?: I don't stay ahead; I do me and what I feel guided to do. However, I do keep an eye on other brands similar to mine and see how they are going and what they might be up to.
Who or what inspires you in your business journey?: Mother Nature and very unwell human beings. I can be one person to help one other person or environment at a time.
What books, podcasts, or resources have had the biggest impact on your professional growth?: None
What’s a fun fact about you that most people wouldn’t know?: I am an open book, but I would have to say not many people know that I enjoy a good puzzle or puzzle book to reduce my stress levels.
What’s one thing you wish more people knew about your business?: Educating people about how my products work with nature not against it.
Reflecting on your time in business, what is one piece of advice you would give to another woman to help her on her business journey?: Have a good mindset, it's not worth stressing over and if you feel stressed let it go and do something for yourself. I did miss myself for many years and now I do many things that actually fill my cup, not drain it.
How can people connect with you or learn more about your business? (e.g., website, social media, etc.): You can connect via our website: www.myhabitatproducts.com.au. This has links to all of our contact areas that we are building. You can also join our education Newsletter via a pop up that occurs in the 1st 30 seconds when you visit my site. You also can get a discount if you wish to try our products.
Anything you want to add that we might have missed?: My business is still relatively a small family business, located in Far North Queensland. Each day, month and year we grow. I would love to look at networking with other Women in a similar field. Thanks for reading, Kim
