Local businesswoman Sophie Harvey has been named as a finalist in the AusMumpreneur Awards in the Wellness Services and the Business Services categories.
The awards are presented by The Women’s Business School to celebrate and recognise Australian mums in business achieving outstanding success in areas such as business excellence, product development, customer service and digital innovation.
The awards are designed to recognise the growing number of women who successfully balance motherhood and business in a way that suits their life and family.
Sophie is the founder and formulator of The Essential Way, a natural skincare brand based in Lakes Entrance which begun back in 2019. She was nominated by another mum in business, Shaye Topaz, from Sage and Cedar Wellness.
The Essential Way specialises in formulating natural skincare and use only the most potent high-performance ingredients, all sourced within Australia.
“All products are formulated by yours truly and are curated with pure intent. I’ve always been inspired by low tox living, and always opt for the natural things in life,” Sophie said.
“I am originally from Essex, I left my big posh shoes and expensive handbags and found love here in Australia. My love affair of all things Australian started back in 2014 when I met husband to be Jarrod, and we now have three beautiful children.”
The Essential Way formulate products for the Metung Hot Springs and supply several beauticians and day spas around Victoria. They specialise in creating custom formulations and work to each client’s specific needs and requirements.
In July 2023, Jarrod had a minor procedure in hospital where he contracted Sepsis and Invasive Group A strep, the deadliest infection in the world.
“He survived and quite literally defied all the odds. He is still very much recovering, and it is highly doubtful that he will ever be able to return to his physical type of work again. “Jarrod is my absolute rock and soul mate, supporting me and our business endlessly,” Sophie said.
“I always knew I wouldn’t be a stay-at-home mum, I’d always had very high-end executive jobs in London and thought if I was to settle down I’d have a house husband.
“This was an epiphany that hit me last October as Jarrod was beginning to worry about money and mortgage payments were backing up. I spent four months caring for our three children under six and nursing my husband around the clock.
“I realised at this point that if I could focus on making a success of the business, this would then enable Jarrod to be free to continue to recover and be home with our babies, with the support of my mother. He needed to focus on healing and being present.
“We had the conversation and both agreed I would take hold of the reins and run with this business. Well, I haven’t stopped running since.
“We have a fully functioning lab on our property which was completed in February this year, I spend my days formulating potent skincare.”
All the Sophie’s hard work is very much beginning to pay off as they are now in a position to begin to give back to community and create employment opportunities for locals.
“Folki is a new collaborative space for hair and beauty industry experts in Lakes Entrance. We have been working very closely with the owner of this innovative new business Brodi Maddern on a high-performance salon professional range featuring Australia’s most potent and natural ingredients. ‘Folki’ will be exclusively stocking The Essential Way’s Natural Skincare products.
“We have just secured a huge deal with Quest Apartment Hotels. We are working with them on a bespoke product that will be released later in the year and are very proud and excited by this.”
It can be challenging to be a successful businesswoman while raising a family and Sophie gives this advice for others thinking about starting their own enterprise.
“Be true to yourself, be genuine and love what you do. I am passionate about our product formulations and our customer service,” she said.
The winners of the awards will be announced at the AusMumpreneur Awards Gala Dinner on August 16 in Melbourne.
