TIRELESS Isabella Hawke packs a lot into her day and running her own business is just part of it.
Isabella, 42, is a mother-of-three and became a grandmother four months ago.
She is also a paid coastguard working with two male colleagues at the coastguard head office in Douglas.
But she has never looked back since starting her own venture by creating her own brand of natural skincare products.
And her message to people thinking of starting their own business is: ‘Go for it.’
Originally from Nottingham Isabella came to the island five years ago with her Manx husband Stephen who is an immigration officer.
‘So between the ports and the airports we have it covered,’ she said.
‘I worked first at Ballakermeen High School as support assistant for children that have problems and then I worked as a manager at Marks & Spencer before I got the job with the coastguard.
‘There are three of us in head office and there are 80 volunteers at five stations around the island.
‘I’m an administrator and I’m training to do other things but I don’t go jumping off the cliffs with the lads. That’s not for me.’
Isabella lives in Douglas with husband Stephen and five-year-old daughter Alicia.
She has two other grown-up children Amy, 21, and Sam, 20, who also live in the island. There is also a four month old grandchild Lucian.
Isabella told how she decided to go into business. ‘I have extra sensitive skin and it will come up in bumps and hives at the slightest sniff of a cosmetics jar.
‘I decided I could either deal with it or moan about it. So I dealt with it and devised my own range of skincare. I have several allergies that don’t help things and if I use this the allergies can be kept to a minimum. I decided there are plenty of people out there like me.
‘I devised a range at high street prices and when I do trade shows I sell at trade prices.
‘What’s surprising is that many of my customers are men. I never anticipated that. That very much surprised me.’
She added: ‘I think more men are starting to look after themselves. They buy from me and then buy their wives things as well. It’s also suitable for kids and pregnant women.’
The gonatural range includes cleansers, toners and moisturisers, skin masks, body lotions, bubble bath, shampoo and conditioner and shower gel.
gonaturalskincare.com
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