Enterprise Nation

Rowena Mansfield has turned her family farm into an enterprising hub of activity. Along with her husband, she has diversified and shown that successful home businesses can be started and grown in the most rural of areas. And she’s achieved it with a little help from her friends.

Rowena had been harnessing the healing properties of native Anglesey herbs and plants for over twenty years. Mixed with natural ingredients such as coconut oil and beeswax, her range of balms gained a reputation for really working. Yet until recently they were one of Anglesey’s best kept secrets.

Staff at Menter Môn, the local enterprise agency for Anglesey, had worked with Rowena and were big fans of her balms. In summer 2006, over a panad (Welsh for cuppa!) in Rowena’s kitchen, they discussed the potential of introducing the balms to a wider audience.

After coming up with the name Gwdihw (pronounced ‘Goody Hoo’ which is Welsh for Owl, commonly associated with wisdom) and finessing the design, it was time to introduce a first range of balms to the marketplace. The reaction was fantastic and soon Rowena had to move production out of the kitchen and into a purpose built cabin next to the house.

It’s from there that she continues to grow the business, whilst still reserving the kitchen table for Board meetings with Menter Môn who take responsibility for sales and distribution.

Rowena says: “We live in a very rural community where you have to create your own work and opportunities. As well as running Gwdihw, my husband and I have built a demonstration hydroponic unit at Cae Gwyn that is visited by many groups from around the UK. We’re finishing the first commercial aquaponic unit in the UK – rearing rainbow trout to grow salad crops. We do 101 things from our business base at home and we love life in this beautiful part of the world”

• www.gwdihwbalm.co.uk