Neal's Yard Remedies became my starting over
I was a divorcee throughout my 30's and whilst I enjoyed single parenthood with two children my greatest concern for the future was that I hadn't established a solid career before becoming a parent.
I remarried and had 2 more children after the age of 40 and as I approached 50 I was still looking for my future in the workplace, quite daunting if you have no degree and no long track record in any one field. This is a very typical problem for divorcees I have learned.
I was extremely lucky and opened a franchise of Neal's Yard Remedies in Guildford, Surrey in June 2000. My life has been transformed by the experience and I have met many women through my shop who have found themselves in similar positions and greatly envied my opportunity.
Two years ago we launched our Direct Selling channel NYR Organic and I was the first consultant to sign up as a Founding Leader because I could see the tremendous opportunity to reach out and share this with thousands of women.
I have a large team of consultants now, many of them single mothers and women of all ages. Whether they simply seek an excuse to invite others around to share the products over a coffee or actually build a serious business, this is a great bridge for many otherwise shy and potentially lonely people. There is also the health aspect, since we see frequently in our therapy rooms that there is a powerful link between huge emotional events such as divorce and the onset, up to 2 years later, of chronic illness, often severe.
Susan Turner
