Enterprise Nation

Yaa S. Adjei-Bohyen is the 27 year old boss of home based business, AlternateStyle. She’s just celebrated her first year in business and tells us the exciting things she’s got planned for the next 12 months.

Factfile

Age: 27
Home office location: North London
Business description: The business sells organic, herbal and natural alternative skincare, beauty and hair products, at moderate prices. The products are for all skin types, for men and women.

When did you start your home business?

I’d been laying down the ground work for a business for about 5 years but studying and other commitments got in the way!  I started AlternateStyle on 29th April 2007 so we’ve just celebrated our first birthday.

What were you doing before becoming your own boss?

I’ve done  all sorts! I’ve worked in the media, education, retail and the civil service. I have a wide range of experiences from cleaning to hairdressing and managerial roles.
How did you come up with the idea?

I come from a business background as most of the women in my family are business women and I also have a passion for healthy living through eating right, exercising and taking care of what goes in and on my body. I became increasingly alarmed with what I was reading about the cosmetics industry and the way it’s regulated which means a lot of the ingredients used in making beauty and skincare products are from harmful sources. I’m aware that what we put in and on our bodies ends up in our blood stream. A lot of the products on the market can cause damage so I was spurred on to looking into alternative beauty products. 

Do you make the products at home?

No I don’t make any of the products myself, although I have plans for introducing my own line later on. At the moment the business is very young and I don’t want to be distracted from the very passion that spurred me on this path. Sourcing the products is actually very easy once you start looking around the world for inspiration and also researching products that have been recommended for their  quality and performance.

Are any of your family involved in the business?

Yes, my partner is very active and so is my son who is keen to help with counting and assembling boxes when they get delivered. This is a relief as the whole family pulls their weight.

What are your plans for the future?

We are introducing a product called Black Soap, which is used for treating dermatitis, body odor and dandruff. We have had it made in Ghana by a small family run business that employs locals for us. This is a soap that has been used in West Africa for centuries; it is not made with any chemicals or preservatives and yet is very efficient. We are excited about it as there have been a lot of enquiries about it. This product marks the beginning of the  long  term plans of  eventually producing our own products at affordable prices.

• AlternateStyle