Her Biz September 2023 Winner
Owner of sustainable, sensitive skincare brand, Erema Botanics, wins £500 to jumpstart her business from the NatWest funded Her Biz Start Up Business workshops.
An emerging brand, deeply rooted in the principles of sustainability and holistic wellness, Eben Winifred Ayeni has a commitment to helping those with eczema-prone and sensitive skin through her start-up ‘Erema Botanics’.
Winifred won £500 towards her start-up costs for Erema Botanics after taking part in the NatWest funded Her Biz start-up workshop programme in September 2023, and submitting her winning business plan to the following optional competition, which is open to all participants.
The Her Biz programme, which is delivered by Let’s Do Business Group and supported by NatWest bank, consists of 4 x 2-hour workshops over 4 weeks, and aims to increase entrepreneurship by breaking down the barriers between women and starting or growing a business. Delivered virtually over Zoom by our expert business coach, the programme has been a long running success since it launched over 4 years ago.
What is Erema Botanics?
With its vision revolving around harnessing high-performance, active ingredients that have been sourced from reputable partners, each product is harmoniously fused of natural elements inspired by the rich heritage and traditions of Africa. Erema Botanics brand mission is to fortify the skin’s protective barrier, overall providing customers with the comfort and confidence to embrace their skin.
According to the National Eczema Society, 1 in 5 people in the UK struggle with the inflammatory skin condition, eczema – including her two children. Whilst there is no known cure for this persistent and prevailing condition, Erema Botanics firmly believes in the potency of plant-based skincare to help alleviate its symptoms.
All of Erema Botanics products are cruelty-free, paraben-free, fragrance-free and capture Africa natural treasures in every bottle. The first set of product launch range includes: cleansers to moisturise and hydrate, detox bath soak to detoxify and de-stress the skin, moisturisers to soothe and nourish dry skin and an overnight repair balm which nourishes and repairs the skins barrier.
“We also aim at providing educational courses and workshops online and offline to help raise awareness of eczema prone skin and instruct on best ways to manage it. Ultimately, we strive to provide our clients with a wide variety of clean, natural, and effective products that are designed to help people minimise the inflammation and irritations that eczema prone skin cause.”
Whilst there is a growing demand for plant-based and organic skincare products, Winifred has identified an opportunity to start a delicate and sensitive skincare business. With a focus on using natural and organic ingredients to formulate effective products, her business idea aligns with her ongoing passion of promoting healthy skin, in addition to providing value to the growing number of individuals seeking alternative skincare solutions.
Winifred’s knowledge is deep-rooted in her culture. Growing up on a family farm in Western Africa, Winifred’s grandmother taught her all about the healing properties of herbs which she has continue to study and uses this knowledge to create the products. She is educated in beauty formulation from an accredited online school which taught her about the science of skincare, including the anatomy and physiology of the skin, the different types of skin, and the causes of skin problems which helped with gaining hands-on experience formulating skincare products and creating her own prototypes.
The biggest goals Winifred hopes to achieve through her brand is for her products to reach a global market and also to setup a charity in Africa which will help mothers and babies suffering from eczema, whilst empowering them to be self-dependent through training on how to formulate skincare products.
Finding the Her Biz programme
Winifred joined the Her Biz Start Up Business Workshop to gain some clarity on the practicalities of starting her own business, and how she could set about making her ideas for Erema Botanics a success.
The Her Biz Women’s Start Up Business Workshops, delivered through 4 x 2-hour sessions, covers everything from sales, marketing, finance, and business planning; and from this, Winifred was able to create her plan of making Erema Botanics official, and how she could turn her hobby into a full-time business. After completing series of workshops, Winifred submitted her business plan to the subsequent competition, which is open to all attendees, and won the £500 prize towards her start-up costs.
“The Her Biz workshops for the September cohort have been a game-changer, reshaping the path of Erema Botanics. The invaluable guidance received throughout the workshops has been so important in creating a strategic path for the forthcoming launch. These workshops offered a structured approach, refining my business model and laying a solid foundation. The £500 prize money goes beyond financial support; it symbolises recognition, significantly contributing to the successful launch and growth of Erema Botanics. This acknowledgment speaks volumes about the effectiveness of the Her Biz program in nurturing and supporting emerging entrepreneurs.”
Having completed the Her Biz programme with a renewed motivation for moving Erema Botanics forward, Winifred is now looking to attend a business management course which will help to improve her business skills, as well as take on members of staff to work alongside with the implementation of her plans.
“It was clear when I first spoke with Winifred that she had the passion and knowledge to move forward with her business, she was already developing skincare products and asking friends and family to test for her. Winifred was a great addition to the Her Biz programme and I look forward to seeing how her business progresses and flourishes in the future.”
All the team at Let’s Do Business Group wish Winifred and Erema Botanics the best of luck!