Shauna McCarney Blair, Heavenly Tasty Organics
4th January 2016
Every month we speak to women entrepreneurs who have just launched into the business world.
In the hot seat for January’s Women Who Launch is Shauna McCarney Blair, Heavenly Tasty Organics.
The Elevator Pitch
Heavenly Tasty Organics provide award winning, healthy, organic snacks for babies and toddlers, that contain no added sugar or salt.
The Operation
Our office is based in Augher, Co Tyrone and we currently have four full time employees. We work with several other carefully selected partners throughout Europe to bring our wonderful products to market. Our mission is to bring healthy snacking options to babies and toddlers throughout the world.
The Financials
As a start-up, I invested all my own savings into the business, I continue to invest in the business each year – if I’m not willing to put my own money into it I wouldn’t expect anyone else to either!
Target Market
Our target market is parents, grandparents and carers of babies, toddlers and young children who are looking to provide healthy alternative snacking options for their little ones.
Brands You Love
I’m a big fan of Northern Ireland based company Suki Tea – I just love their brand and how they portray their love for everything to do with tea. Plus they are just lovely people.
As I’m expecting my fourth child at the moment, I’m looking at all things maternity and baby and noticing more and more new brands popping up. Although I’m not a big ‘brands’ person I do dream of the day I can buy myself a Victoria Beckham dress!
Biggest ‘Win’ To Date
Securing contracts to supply our products in Spain, France and the Middle East.
Biggest ‘Slap in the Face’
There are plenty of ‘slaps in the face’ in the business world but you have to take a step back and use them as a learning tool and put plans in place so that they don’t happen again.
Are You Social When It Comes To Media?
Social media is an extremely important part of our overall marketing strategy. So many people use social media to search for products before they even search Google so it’s important for us to use it to connect with our consumers and to ‘talk’ to our consumers. It’s also a cost effective means of advertising and communicating our brand.
Technology & Innovation
Whilst I’m not a techno-phobe, I wouldn’t say I’m the biggest technology expert either! I don’t have time to embrace all the latest gadgets or technology but like everyone else in business my mobile is never off and the emails do get checked late at night!
Business Model You’d Like To Emulate
There are many business models out there which have been so successful, but I think for our own business, because we are so different to anyone else in Ireland in terms of what we do, we need to create our own model.
If you had a blank cheque
Ohhhhhh now…..lol……well, I would:
1. Invest more into my own company
2. Buy a villa in Spain
3. Hire more staff!
Your Traits – Best and Worst
Best: Multitasking, being organised, and planning
Worst: Getting stressed about clutter, not knowing how to take time for me, and taking on too much.
Best Business Lunch Date
I would love to have lunch with many influential people in business and life, but Baroness Karren Brady springs to mind. She is such an inspiration to many women, especially in business.
Ideal Business Partner (Dead or Alive)
Again Baroness Karren Brady springs to mind. There is a lot to be learned from someone like her and I think bringing her business acumen to any business would mean a huge success.
Best Advice To Pass On
In terms of business – research, plan, and take time to make decisions during a crisis. Don’t always jump the gun with a quick fix.
