Listed: Meet 10 innovative business women of the northern suburbs
Dominating the health sector, building apps and motivated by children, these northern suburbs entrepreneurs are making moves. Here are 10 to watch in the business world.
Lifestyle
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Adelaide’s north and northeastern suburbs are home to many dedicated business women leaving a mark on their chosen industries.
From teaching people living with disability how to navigate the world of online dating to bootcamps inspired by a shock diagnosis, suburban women are making moves in the business world.
The Advertiser has already profiled inspiring women from the South East and Murraylands and these are the stories behind 10 of the most innovative business women in the north.
Do you know a local business owner we’ve missed? Email eva.blandis@news.com.au
Cheryl Drury
Boredom on maternity leave and the Covid-19 pandemic led Cheryl Drury to a genius idea which has since made a huge difference to the lives of people living with a disability.
Ms Drury started First Step Solutions in a bid to help with financial literacy in 2020 but she could not predict how successful it would become.
The 40 year old soon noticed there was also a need to talk about online dating safety for those with a disability.
She later started the Date-ability Project teaching people important dating skills.
“It’s just beautiful to see people understand more about that,” she said.
“This was never really an area I thought I’d work in.”
The former financial planner believes she is on the “right path” with First Step Solutions.
Based in Smithfield Plains, with four locations over Adelaide, and a growing presence throughout the country, Ms Drury said it was a rewarding job.
“When I first started I thought it was just going to be a side hustle,” she said.
“I cry most weeks with joy and sadness.
“It’s so beautiful when I see that growth.
“We’re reminded why we’re doing it.”
Ms Drury said it could be a juggle at times keeping up with work and her two children, aged three and six, but the flexibility of being a business owner made it easier.
“When you work for yourself you have that flexibility,” she said.
Emily Rose Pearce
Not only is Emily Rose Pearce a talented photographer, she’s also a full-time mum and influencer.
The 27-year-old established Captured by Emily Rose in January after she was inspired by a photoshoot of her, now, 14-month-old son Oliver.
“I loved taking photos of my son … I did a big photoshoot (with him),” she said.
Ms Pearce said she had planned to settle into a job before getting pregnant, but a polycystic ovary syndrome diagnosis changed her plans.
“Having him kind of paved the way for work,” she said.
Over the past decade Ms Pearce’s Instagram following has grown to more than 40,000 which also keeps her busy.
The dedicated Evanston Park business woman said making her son’s life as good as possible was her motivation to succeed.
“I don’t sleep much,” she said. “If I’m awake, I’m working.”
“I don’t care if I sleep hardly now, I want him (Oliver) to have a good life.”
Ms Pearce said she hoped her business continued to grow into a full-time job that would completely support her.
“I’d like to do it almost every day,” she said.
“I’d love to just support myself.”
Karen Denwood
For Karen Denwood opening a physiotherapy clinic in Ridgehaven has been a rewarding adventure.
The 42 year old first opened in the UK before moving to Adelaide where she worked for other companies before eventually going out on her own again in 2017.
Ms Denwood, who specialises in women’s health, said she was motivated by her health struggles before, during and after the birth of her first child.
The Karen Denwood Physiotherapy owner said she now sees herself as an educator who can help others through their pregnancies.
“I didn’t want to see other people go through that,” she said.
“I think of myself as a pre and post-natal cheerleader.
“I’m so proud … I love it.”
The physiotherapist who has two children, aged 13 and 6, said nailing “work life balance has been difficult” but not impossible.
Ms Denwood said her daughter had grown up alongside the business which launched only four months after she was born.
“Everybody knows who my daughter is,” she said.
“She’s grown up with my clients.”
Kia Nichols
After 20 years in the corporate world Kia Nichols “accidentally” established a business born from offering advice to her friends who own small businesses.
The 43-year-old had always dreamt being a business owner and decided to take the leap in December launching Tell Me More Business Solutions.
“At the time I was working full time when I started the business,” she said.
“(It) started off as a side hustle.”
Ms Nichols said she continued working her day job until a month ago when she made the venture her sole focus.
“I was burning the candle at both ends,” she said.
“It’s been a lot of hard work.”
Ms Nichols said the Tea Tree Gully company offered a “bespoke service” to each and every client.
And her biggest advice for those wanting to open their own business?
“You’ve just got to back yourself,” she said.
Nathalie White
Nathalie White had been in the hair business for 17 years before deciding to start THAIRapyByNat and work for herself after having a baby.
Ms White said she people would ask “time and time again” how to style their hair which motivated her to create a program to teach others.
“I worked on a program to teach the everyday person to style their hair like a pro, by educating them about their own hair and what they can easily achieve with the right tips, tricks and time,” she said.
The 36 year old’s hair school started with face-to-face courses and will expand to include a online course in spring.
Ms White has also created a crown oil and a pre-shampoo oil designed to help the general health of the hair and scalp.
The hair expert said she enjoys the busy lifestyle.
“I am a lot more efficient when I’m busy but I also believe that I am great at what I’m great at,” she said.
“And all the other behind the scenes stuff I try and find great people to help me with as much as possible.”
Sandra Senn
Keen business woman Sandra Senn took over Business Mums Hub two years ago after discovering the old owners were moving on.
“I just couldn’t let it die,” she said.
The 39-year-old said the Athelstone business, which has since shifted from networking to education, now has close to 200 members.
Ms Senn said it was all about helping mums and delivering training that helps them with their businesses.
“(I’ve seen people) not being able to do it, to excelling in it,” she said.
The former business analyst wanted to try something new after having her first child which led her to open her first business Hashtag Insta Prints, and then two years later she adopted Business Mums Hub.
“You don’t have to be locked into one thing forever,” she said.
“We should all be chasing happiness and not success.”
Ms Senn said she was able to juggle work and being the mum of two kids by not putting too much pressure on herself.
“I don’t set ridiculous benchmarks for myself.
“If your business is taking over your life, you’re probably not doing it right.”
Jade Leray
A shock diagnosis after the birth of her daughter inspired Jade Leray to start bootcamps to help people understand their menstrual cycles.
The new mum had 15 years experience in the business industry when she was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s disease following the birth of her daughter.
“I didn’t understand anything about my (menstrual) cycle or body,” she said.
Ms Leray said as she started understanding her disease she discovered there was not much information on “living with your cycle”.
The 33 year old started a boot camp at home where she found a flood of people wanting to understand how their cycles affect their bodies.
“They wanted to understand more,” she said.
Ms Leray now runs Beautiful Bodies Society, located in Surrey Downs, upskilling people to track their cycle and embrace wellness and fitness.
The business consists of an in-person studio as well as an online program and a new app called Get Synced by BBS.
Ms Leray said it was a juggle at times owning a business and being a mum but that it was all worth it in the end.
“It can be tricky at times trying to wear all the hats,” she said.
“I always put my health first.”
Ms Leray said in a year’s time she would love to see women all around Australia using her app.
Raquel Betiz
When Raquel Betiz moved to Adelaide she was searching for a new beginning so she launched an online floristry business.
The 40 year old, decided to pursue floristry, starting her Certificate III with TafeSA in August and opening Pretty Pretty Flowers where she creates unique floral arrangements.
“My business progressed naturally from when I started the course, although, I didn’t want to go too hard on building my business too much during my studies,” she said.
“I wanted the year to be about absorbing as much information as I could, and enjoying the process.”
Ms Betiz first fell in love with floristry during a five week short course at the Melbourne Flower School.
“Ever since then, it was always in the back of my mind, that one day I’d do it,” she said.
After moving the Adelaide, Ms Betiz thought what better time to start a new profession.
“My motivation was new beginnings,” she said.
Ms Betiz, who also works as a disability support worker, said life could be busy but her organisation skills helped her out.
“I find that allocating certain hours to work on my business and knowing when to stop, reduces burnout and stress.”
Nakita Burrows
Nakita Burrows was on the hunt for a side hustle when her soft play hire business took off.
LittleOllieBear Soft Play Hire, which launched in November, is a children’s party event service which specialises in soft play.
The newly established business caters to big and small events with a range of different packages for all occasions.
Ms Burrows, 26, said the business name came from her youngest son Ollie and his “wild sense of adventure but a clumsy nature”.
“We often refer to him as Ollie Bear, (we) have ever since he was a newborn,” she said.
“I loved naming something after my children.”
Ms Burrows said after only four months she saw so much potential in the business she quit her of in the disability sector.
“Since being able to commit more to the business, it has thrived even more and we are almost fully booked for 2023,” she said.
“I am inspired by my own self growth within the business, I took a leap of faith in something unsure and I am so ecstatic and proud of how much I have grown the business in such a short time.”
The mum-of-two said it was a juggle running a business and raising her children.
“I find my nights are spent sending invoices, taking bookings, co-ordinating with other event planners and organising equipment for a smooth weekend of parties,” she said.
“I try to involve my children as much as I can, my eldest son sometimes comes out with me and helps me to do set ups.
“He loves helping mummy at work and can’t wait to put on his LittleOllieBear uniform.”
Elsa Hagan
Elsa Hagan was involved in the world of hair dressing for five years before she decided to take a leap and start her own home studio.
The 25-year-old, from Craigmore, said her favourite thing about her business, Babelicious Hair, was the relationships she forged with clients.
“I’m very big on having conversations,” she said.
“I’ve built a lot of friendships.”
Ms Hagan said having her own business, which provides customers with a range of services including blonde vivid and extensions, is “amazing” and she “loves it”.
“I take pride in what I do,” she said.
“(My favourite thing) is meeting new people and putting a smile on their faces … (and) welcoming them into my (home studio).
“I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
The hairdresser said she hoped her business would continue to grow and plans to expand her services to include spray tanning in the near future.
Ms Hagan said she would not have been able to do it without the support of her family.
“My dad is my biggest support … and my partner as well,” she said.
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