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Michelle Leivars
Michelle Leivars is the founder of family run, award-winning beauty business Breedon Perfumery. She shares her phenomenal story with WOTC on challenges she’s faced and overcome, unifying women and giving back.
Breedon Perfumery is an award-winning bath, body care and fragrance brand with an extensive offering of beauty products from novelty bath bombs, shampoos and conditioners and perfume.
Initially a stay at home mother, who would spend her days homeschooling her daughters, Michelle had never dreamed that when push came to shove, she would become an entrepreneur. She revisits the day her husband had an accident that would change their lives forever. He had been the breadwinner for the best part of almost two decades, however the onus soon fell on her as she began caring for him and also carrying their family financially. “He’s always been the one that goes out to work and I always stayed at home with the kids. So obviously it kind of fell to me to get us out of the situation, but I didn't know what I was going to do.” Michelle remembers reaching a point where they had no money and their only option being food banks. “There was a lovely lady that helped us to get the food bank parcels because we had never been in that situation before, and I remember opening one of them. It had been such a long time since I'd had anything that was like a treat, because we were struggling so much and they popped in a little body lotion. I remember going to the bathroom, having a bath and then using it and I remember the feeling on my skin.” She had felt like a brand new person. “I almost felt like a human again,” she admits.
It was here that she vowed to herself that she would provide the very same feeling to others, whether they were going through a dark moment, it was a special treat or it was part of someone’s daily self care routine. At the time, having no capital meant she couldn’t launch her idea right away on a large scale, however it allowed time for her to do research and sharpen her mind.
Once she was back on her feet, Michelle began making products in small quantities, which she gifted to family and friends. “The response I got from them was insane. It was ‘oh wow, this smells so nice; it makes me feel great,’ and I thought ‘OK, if there’s ever a time, it’s now.” She had no formal business experience or any qualifications past her GCSEs, but she had a story and her mind set to change lives.
Michelle didn’t yet consider herself a leader, however described herself as a supporter of women. “I love to see other women do well. I love to see other women succeed and I just love to see other women realise their potential because it's so special.
During the second lockdown, she set up a ‘women in business’ support group via Zoom, which allowed women who just like her felt lonely and unsure of what to do about their business when the covid-19 pandemic first hit, allowing them to connect with and build relationships amongst each other. “I'd networked with a lot of ladies in lockdown and managed to build relationships with them through Instagram. I just thought, ‘you know what? There's going to be so many women out there feeling exactly the same as I was, so let's all get together.’” The group began as weekly chats amongst like-minded women and transpired into experts that Michelle knew in media, PR and styling, who would hold weekly workshops for the women to take part in.
Michelle has recently launched her podcast entitled 'Yes She Can Project’ where she invites weekly guests to speak on topics that affect women in business and everyday life. “I've also just partnered up with a charity called Beauty Banks because they are donating to people who are in the situation that I was in before. I want to give back as much as I can because they inspired me to start my business.”
What would you say to the twenty one year old you? WOTC probed. “Oh, my God, twenty-one year old me.. I would say, believe in yourself more, have confidence and go for things. I never did that when I was in my twenties. I was a young mum, so I had my daughter at 18 and I don't know.. I've never believed that I could do anything.