Celebrating International Women's Day: An Exclusive Interview With Neom Founder Nicola Elliot
In this exclusive interview, Neom Organics founder Nicola Elliott reveals what inspired her to walk away from a hectic life as a fashion editor and start her own award-winning wellbeing business…After noticing her wellbeing had taken a dive for the worst, former Glamour Magazine Editor Nicola Elliott gave it all up to train as an aromatherapist and nutritionist. She founded Neom Organics in 2005, running it from her two-bedroom Islington flat. Twelve years later, Neom is one of the most recognisable and best-selling wellness brands in the UK.
We caught up with Nicola to see what inspired her to start her own business and how she balances family and work life...
What inspired you to start NEOM?
I suffered from anxiety and started creating 100% natural blends to help. They worked! I then followed on with a sleep blend for my sister who was suffering with insomnia, then my husband to boost his energy... when he left the house with 32 bottles for the football team I thought then we may be on to something!
Who are the women that inspire you?
There’s so many... my Mum, Sister, best friends, and our customers!
How do you juggle family and work life?
I have a great husband, Dave, who I tag team with. I couldn’t do it solo! We do 50/50 around the home and with the kids.
Poor sleep, stress, low energy and mood swings. This kick-started my own wellbeing journey"
What advice do you have for starting a business?
See if you get traction whilst working your day job first... find a partner with different skills to you and prepare for it to take longer than you think. Hire the best people you can afford as soon as you can. Then... have fun!
What are your top wellbeing tips?
Create your own wellbeing toolkit – what works for one person won’t work for the next! It’s about finding those few things that you enjoy otherwise it becomes a chore, so whether that’s getting 5 minutes of fresh air at lunch time, meeting with friends, a yoga class once a week or a run; there really are small steps that we can take to feel our best every day. I always see time for myself as necessity not a luxury and it’s a work in progress, but I try not to sweat the small stuff!
You can't look good if you don't feel good! - Nicola Elliott, Neom founder
You can shop the full Neom range at allbeauty. To find out more about International Women's Day, head to www.internationalwomensday.com
