Guest post by Carla King-Turner
I have always been a salesperson. From my first job at 18 years of age in advertising to selling products on TV, selling came naturally to me especially when I loved the product.
Regardless of the product I was pitching, I came to learn a very important sales rule – people buy from people they like. I watched many home shopping presenters come and go, simply because they did not connect. Sure they looked good, knew all the info and presented it all beautifully, but if there is no connection with your customer it’s just another sales pitch.
I “fell” into presenting home shopping after I worked there as a buyer. I had no intention of becoming a presenter but at 30 years of age I wanted a shift from being in sales, to something a bit more creative. I was a buyer for 2 years and it wasn’t long before I was on the shows with our presenters as a co-host. It was then I really found my niche.
Finding my niche
It was time to take the leap and audition as a contract presenter. Yep, that’s right, I gave up my full time secure and well paid role as Senior Buyer, to compete with 15 other highly skilled TV presenters for contract hours that were not guaranteed. This was one of the pivotal decisions of my career. Many tried to talk me out of it, but luckily, my mind was made up.
After 15 years in front of the camera selling everything from Vacuum Cleaners to Diamond Earrings, I realised that my passion was in the health and beauty space. This was where I felt most comfortable and where I was the most successful.
Pursuing my passion for health and wellbeing, I launched The Greenhouse Retreat in 2017. An investment property destined for permanent tenants instead became the first of 2 locations offering luxury holiday accommodation with wellness and luxury spa inclusions. We now have 2 locations (looking for our 3rd!) with our occupancy rates now close to 80% annually.
The Greenhouse shifted my focus to what I really love. That is, sharing and building this beautiful space as well as health, wellness and beauty products which fit a non-toxic and sustainable lifestyle. At this point in my career, more than ever before, my personal brand was clear: I was the clean beauty and wellness chick.
In late 2018, I decided to focus 100% on The Greenhouse Retreat and build my personal brand around it. I wanted to share not only the retreat space itself, but also products I love, from natural spa products and essential oils to organic herbal teas. It was time for me to say goodbye to home shopping and focus fully on my personal brand.
With guests loving the products I had in the Greenhouse Retreats, I was inspired to launch a directory for these brands. Enter Mooi + U Beauty. This soon became a fully-fledged E-Commerce site in August 2020. Now, 6 months in, we range nearly 300 products across 36 brands (and counting!).
It’s simultaneously terrifying and rewarding running your own business. My mission is to build a loyal and connected customer base. Our guests and customers quickly become regulars, and this makes it all the more rewarding.
My advice to aspiring entrepreneurs: love what you do. When it’s your own, you must stay true to your brand and stay in your lane. No matter what others tell you, trust your instincts and follow your passions.