In conversation with Whist UK - Creating moments of pause
CONSCIOUS CONVERSATIONS SERIES
Supporting and championing conscious independent businesses and their owners runs at the very heart of Kohlab Creative.
Particularly brave businesses that are busy building their own brighter, more honest and soulful world by honouring and reviving a more intentional and ethical way of living. It’s a topic that’s guaranteed to get me up on my soapbox because I care passionately about protecting the values that run through the veins of these businesses. Values that fly in the face of corporate giants and bind us together as a community. Conscious living. Ethical business. Artisanal hand-crafted products. Soulful services. Community wellbeing.
So I decided to bring my conscious conversations with fellow independent business owners that I admire and respect to my blog so I could share their insights, support their amazing work, and just generally spread the small business love. You might even find a gift idea or two along the way.
I’m super excited to launch this blog series with an inspirational small business that I have been a huge fan of ever since I virtually met Kerry (the founder) as she was launching her gorgeous home fragrance brand, Whist, while I too was getting my own business off the ground.
Kerry shares a bit about her journey before founding Whist, what her big WHY is, what she’d do with a gift of £5k and how, through her business, she has grown a forest!
Whist - a luxury range of nature-inspired and ethically created home fragrance products
A MOMENT OF PAUSE
“Whist has always been about more than just home fragrance to me. It is about enhancing wellbeing and hopefully, providing people with a little pause in the chaos.” Kerry, founder of Whist
I love to hear about people's career and business journeys, as it’s rarely linear. What were you doing before you founded Whist?
My working life has been pretty varied, but weirdly, all of the roles have taught me skills that I have used within Whist.
Although I had many jobs, I would say that I had two main careers prior to launching Whist. Not long after leaving school, I left the UK to travel the world with my boyfriend, (now husband). We lived a nomadic life for a few years before returning home. I then immersed myself into a stressful, all-consuming career in banking. I stayed in this field for 7 years until I had our boys.
My second career was as a holistic and skincare therapist. I trained in most areas of beauty therapy, and then holistic therapy. This is where I was introduced to aromatherapy and where my absolute love and belief in the power of plants blossomed...excuse the pun...I worked in this role from 2002, and was the proud owner of a boutique skincare and holistic retreat until 2017.
Any entrepreneur knows there are plenty of tough days, along with the good ones. What is your big WHY or mission that you come back to on those tougher days/weeks/months?
Oh there certainly are some challenges and bad days. I work alone, so I have had to learn quickly not to get in my own way with negative thought processes.
The thing that keeps me going is a genuine love of what I do, and reading feedback and reviews on my products. Especially when people say that a product has helped them with poor sleep, or just made them feel better in some way.
Whist has always been about more than just home fragrance to me. It is about enhancing wellbeing and hopefully, providing people with a little pause in the chaos. I know how much the simple ritual of lighting a candle, filling my room with aromatherapy scent, became my moment of pause in the darkest, scariest days of my husband's brutal battle with cancer.
If you were given £5k to spend on your website and/or branding, how would you spend it?
Oh I have quite a list for this one! I am an online-only store, so I know that my website is my shop front, and therefore incredibly important.
If I were given £5k to spend on my website, I would have a professional overhaul on it. I launched Whist with very, very minimal funds, so I did my website myself. There are so many areas that I would love to make improvements on. Having it optimised for search engines (SEO) would be great. I would love more interactive parts i.e. scent quiz for wellbeing need etc. I would love the shop to be a little more adaptable. I'd love beautifully shot product photos. I would love to just make it more in line with the vision I have for it.
The list goes on......
As conscious business owners, we’re very aware of the difference we can all make in making our businesses more sustainable, but it can feel overwhelming. What small steps have you taken or are you taking to run your business in a more sustainable and ethical way?
From the launch of Whist, sustainability, and care of planet and people was a core ethic. It was a non-negotiable for me that my products were vegan, (I'm vegan), ethically and sustainably made, eco-conscious and cruelty-free.
I researched and chose every single part of what goes into my candles, to ensure that these ethics were met. I even opened my business bank account with a bank that is in the top two of low-carbon footprint banks. I have also planted a tree via a reforestation project since the start.
I am incredibly proud that this month saw our 1000th tree be planted. We have a forest!
Running a business is a tough gig, juggling ALL the things. What do you do to look after your own well-being?
In the interest of total honesty, I am not the best at self-care. It is something that I have to consciously remind myself to do. However, one of the things that I do have in my day, and have done for the past 25 years, is daily meditation. I light a candle, stretch for 5 minutes, and get on my cushion every single morning, without fail. My meditation practice allows me time to sit with myself, and whatever feelings or emotions I may be experiencing. Depending on what is going on in life, I can be on my cushion from 10 minutes to an hour!
I will always, always make time for meditation.
Christmas is coming and I love to support other small businesses by shopping independent and sharing gift ideas. Out of your lovely products, what would make an ideal Christmas gift?
For me, a candle is always a winning gift. Especially one that comes with well-being benefits within it.
I think you'd not go far wrong with a Winters Song candle as a gift. It has all of the nostalgic, festive atmosphere within it, but the oils used can help create calmness of mind, and a sense of peace. Perfect for this time of year, when life, and nerves, can get a little frazzled!
WINTER’S SONG CANDLE, by Whist UK
Good for calming the mind and feeling peaceful
The blend opens with the soft citrus of Sweet Orange and mandarin, with the slightly spicy notes of Clove and Anise filtering through. The rich woodiness of cedar leaf rounds and balances the fragrance, making it the most comforting and uplifting of seasonal fragrances.
You can find out more about Kerry and all her wonderful products at Whist UK here:
Website: https://www.whistuk.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whist_uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Whistuk/
